Interview: U.S. expert hails China's achievements in poverty reduction, environmental protection

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China has made great achievements in poverty reduction, environmental protection and assistance to third world countries since China adopted the policy of reform and opening up 40 years ago, a U.S. expert on China said Tuesday.

In a written interview with Xinhua, Charlotte Christensen, a board member of Oregon-China Sister State Relations Council, said China has lifted over 800 million out of poverty over the past 30 years.

"With this accomplishment alone, China has provided a remarkably positive example for the world," she said.

"And now China's government is acting on a sound plan to fully eradicate extreme domestic poverty by 2020," she said, adding that these are exciting developments for many people in the United States.

In contrast, Charlotte noted that conditions for low-income working people in the United States have declined with poverty on the rise, and that there are growing problems for those people with access to clean water, adequate food, medical care and steady full-time jobs.

China is also leading in a bold new approach to global sustainable development that promotes peace and inclusiveness rather than conflict and division, and China is reaching out to assist developing nations on all continents, said the expert from Oregon, a coastal state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States.

"China's foreign policy provides the world with another extraordinary example of how to make historic achievements in elevation of the lives and livelihoods of many millions of people worldwide," she said.

At the same time, she said, China is making new strides in policies and programs to restore, protect and manage its vast natural environmental resources.

Even though China's environment suffered as a result of carrying the burden of manufacturing products for the developed countries in the last quarter of the 20th century, it has decidedly reversed that trend, Charlotte said.

"China is becoming an 'Ecological Civilization' and now leads the world in environmental policies and practices," which are consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development agreed upon by 193 countries, she said.

"Many of us in my home state of Oregon -- and throughout the U.S. -- respect China for her achievements of real-life solutions for working people and the environment," she noted.

She expressed her hope to promote mutually beneficial trade agreements, as well as cultural and educational exchanges between China and the State of Oregon on the sub-national level.

Oregon-China Sister State Relations Council is a non-profit organization dedicated to seeking opportunities to improve people-to-people exchanges, mutual respect and prosperity between Oregon and China. Enditem