Poverty reduction project with Chinese aid launched in Laos

VIENTIANE, Dec. 9 (Xinhua) The Pilot Project of Poverty Reduction Cooperation in East Asia, a project with aid from China, was launched at a ceremony held in Vientiane, Lao News Agency (KPL) reported Friday.

The three-year project selected two typical villages each in Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar and adopted the poverty reduction experience of China, which has witnessed about 700 million people rising above poverty over the past 30 years, according to KPL.

The Chinese poverty reduction departments will work hand in hand with the three countries' counterparts at all levels, jointly organizing, participating in, and implementing all stages of the project.

Poverty rate has been dramatically decreased within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) when compared to other regions, yet significant challenges and barriers remain for the least developed members, including Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, in reaching their respective sustainable development goals, KPL reported.

"The Pilot Project of Poverty Reduction Cooperation in East Asia is crucial in terms of creating better livelihoods for multi-people of the three countries and also reducing the disparity within ASEAN," said Thongvanh Vilayheuang, Acting Chairman of Lao National Committee for Rural Development and Poverty Eradication at the launching ceremony held on Wednesday.

He added that this pilot project is a vital contribution to the implementation of Lao national strategies and the Eighth Five-Year National Socio-economic Development Plan (2016-2020), which emphasizes eradicating poverty in entirety and also graduating Laos from Least Developed Country status by 2020.

The project intends to alleviate poverty in targeted areas, improve conditions for living and production in the communities, build capacity for self-development, diversify the means of generating incomes, and provide examples for the government of Laos to eliminate poverty and improve people's livelihoods.

"The launch of this project will not only enhance the cooperation and exchanges between China and Laos, but also contribute to deepening the friendly cooperation between the two governments, building up the friendship between people of the two countries, and promoting regional cooperation," said Chinese Ambassador to Laos Guan Huabing.

Since reform and opening up, the large-scale development-oriented poverty relief efforts led by the Chinese government has realized remarkable achievements. Between 1978 and 2014, over 700 million impoverished people in China were lifted out of poverty, which is known to the world as the "Poverty reduction path with Chinese characteristics".

"We are willing to share our experience in poverty reduction with the rest of the world and make utmost efforts in helping others. We are especially willing to bring benefits to neighboring countries like Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar with our development so as to realize social stability and economic prosperity in East Asia," said the Chinese ambassador.

Wu Min, Deputy Director General of China's State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development, said China has always been an active advocator, faithful practitioner and influential impeller of the global cause of poverty alleviation.

The project is expected to promote the building of infrastructure such as roads and water facilities, support rural industries such as plantations and cultivations, enhance communal environments, provide supplies, and dispatch experts for trainings.

Meanwhile, it will integrate capacity building with the people's strong desire to shake off poverty in order to increase endogenous development momentum. Endit