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Algeria: China to achieve its poverty reduction target by 2020 despite COVID-19

China.org.cn by Wang Donghai, Xu Lin and An Yu,June 04, 2020 Adjust font size:

What impact will the COVID-19 pandemic bring to China's goal of eradicating extreme poverty by the end of 2020? How does the international community view China's efforts in poverty reduction? What other challenges will China face in poverty reduction after eliminating absolute poverty in 2020?

Ahcène Boukhelfa, Algerian ambassador to China, recently gave a written interview with China.org.cn about China's poverty relief efforts under the COVID-19 epidemic. He indicated China’s poverty reduction experience was of great interest to other countries, and China would undoubtedly succeed to accomplish its goal this year to build a moderately prosperous society in all respects.

Ahcène Boukhelfa, Algerian ambassador to China

China.org.cn: China is expected to eliminate absolute poverty this year. What is your comment on China's efforts in poverty reduction?

Ahcène Boukhelfa: I consider that China has made a truly remarkable progress in the fight against poverty in recent years, as the number of people living below the poverty line has been reduced to 5.51 million by the end of 2019, compared to almost 100 million at the end of 2012.

Indeed, the increase of the standard of living in China, the growth in GDP per capita and the rate of implementation of the poverty reduction program are impressive, which proves the great effectiveness of the efforts undertaken by the Chinese authorities under the leadership of Chinese President Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party.

In addition to the efforts of the Chinese authorities, I observe that large Chinese companies are also allocating considerable funds to the fight against poverty. 

That is why I am sure that China will undoubtedly succeed in completing this year to build “a moderately prosperous society in all respects.”

China.org.cn: In your opinion, what impact will the COVID-19 pandemic bring to China's goal of eradicating extreme poverty by the end of 2020? What are your suggestions?

Ahcène Boukhelfa: It is true that the epidemic has presented new challenges and difficulties with regard to poverty eradication. 

For example, poor migrant workers are unable to go to work, poor households suffer financial losses in their activities, the work of anti-poverty teams is disrupted, and anti-poverty enterprises and programs have been put on hold for a period of time.

However, I can see that the Chinese authorities have taken important measures to support the employment of the working poor, to stimulate sales of products in poor areas, to support the recovery of local industries and projects and to provide assistance to people who are poor or who fall back into poverty as a result of the epidemic. 

In this regard, I am confident that China will achieve its poverty reduction objectives set for the end of 2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic. 

China.org.cn: What other challenges will China face in poverty reduction after eliminating absolute poverty in 2020?

Ahcène Boukhelfa: I think that the main economic challenge during this year is the uncertainty of the epidemic situation and the economic situation at the global level. That is why the Chinese government has abstained from setting an annual growth objective for the first time in many years.

But I am sure that China is able and determined to continue to promote stable, healthy and sustainable economic development, which will have a positive effect on the policy of combating poverty.  

In this regard, I share the view of He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, who stated a few days ago that the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the Chinese economy is significant, but will be short-term and temporary.

China.org.cn: What are your suggestions on furthering international cooperation in poverty reduction?

Ahcène Boukhelfa: The fight against poverty is the first of the 17 goals of the United Nations Sustainable Development Programme for 2030.

This goal requires the strengthening of development cooperation to provide developing countries, in particular the least developed countries, with adequate and predictable means to implement programs and policies aimed at ending poverty in all its forms.

In this regard, China has become a world leader in the fight against poverty, which will make it possible to share its successful experience in other countries, particularly developing countries.

In institutional matters, for example, the experience of the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development is of great interest to other countries seeking an institutional solution to such problems.

No one should forget the situation in China and the terrible deprivation endured by the Chinese people at the beginning of the previous century and just before the foundation of the People’s Republic of China. Nowadays, we can see the prosperity and ease shared by a large number of Chinese. The progress made by China and the Chinese and the many achievements that mark it are exceptional form every point of view. In this sense they deserve all our consideration.

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