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FOCAC Sub-Forum Explores Solutions to Africa and China Poverty Reduction Challenges

chinagate.cn ,September 08, 2017 Adjust font size:

The Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference, a Sub-forum of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is successfully opened in Mauritius. The Conference is jointly sponsored by the China State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development (LGOP) and the Ministry of Social Integration and Economic Empowerment (MSIEE) of Mauritius, and co-organized by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China (IPRCC) and MSIEE with support from the African Union (AU), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the China-Africa Development Fund (CADF).


Mr. Marie Roland Alain Wong Yen Cheong MSK, Minister of MSIEE of Mauritius, Mr. Xia Gengsheng, Vice Minister of the LGOP, Mr. Zhou Yuxiao, Ambassador for FOCAC Affairs of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, and Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister, Minister of Home Affairs, External Communications and National Development Unit, Minister of Finance and Economic Development of Mauritius addressed the opening ceremony. Mr. Ashis Kumar Hoolass, Permanent Secretary of SIEEM of Mauritius, moderated the opening.


Structured around the main theme“Africa and China: Rising to New Challenges in Poverty Reduction”, the conference brings over 100 participants from China and 12 African countries to share poverty reduction practices, experience, challenges and innovations and to explore more effective ways that China and Africa can cooperate. 


Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Mauritius, introduced a six-pillar strategy to combat poverty in Mauritius, including an inclusive economic growth model, increasing investment in education and training, strong social security system, support for poor families, a halt to intergenerational transfer of poverty and the combat with the social ills. He stressed:“The international conference augurs new hope for African countries in our endeavor to reduce poverty. I would like to make an appeal to participants from China and Africa to pledge for the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practices to materialize Africa Agenda 2063.”


"The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by the Chinese government is widely recognized in the international community. We truly hope that, leveraging the BRI, the Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference could serve as a real platform to produce insightful ideas for the wellbeing of Chinese and African people, and help with the synergy between the10 China-Africa Cooperation Programs and the 2063 Agenda of AU to support Africa's economic development, employment increase, poverty eradication and inclusive growth. We hope that both China and Africa could tap our potential and advantages to bring tangible benefits to the Chinese and African people." said Mr. Xia Gengsheng, Vice Minister of the LGOP.


Mr. Zhou Yuxiao, FOCAC Ambassador of China's Foreign Ministry stated in his speech that FOCAC always attaches great importance to poverty reduction and development. Since the inception of FOCAC, the Chinese government has been firm in supporting Africa through various ways within the framework of the mechanism, and made tangible contribution to peace, development, poverty reduction and livelihood improvement in African countries. He added:“China and Africa have always been a community of shared future and common interests. We are willing to share the opportunities brought by BRI and to align the“China-Africa ten cooperation plans”with the AU Agenda 2063 for mutually beneficial cooperation to facilitate sustainable development and free ourselves from poverty at the earliest possible time.”


Mr. Marie Roland Alain Wong Yen Cheong MSK, Minister of MSIEE of Mauritius, said that he appreciates the value placed on education as a measure to empower people to get out of poverty and wants to replicate the model of china's school which provides vocational training along with free basic facilities to children of poor families in Mauritius." The 2017 Africa- China Conference will help in building the necessary synergy and sustained commitment throughout Africa on the issue of poverty reduction.” He added.