ICT Contributes to Poverty Reduction
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Keynote speech at “Global Partnerships for Poverty Reduction”
Li Fugen, Vice President of China Internet Information Center
April 28, 2017, Rome, Italy
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,
Good morning!
Before this seminar, I led a team to Zuoquan County in Shanxi province, the county we help in poverty reduction. During the visit, I get to know how poverty-stricken farmers there get rid of poverty with help from governments at all levels. Meanwhile, CIIC reporters have also learned encouraging successes people in other poverty-stricken areas have achieved. This reinforces my confidence in the Chinese government’s commitment to eliminate absolute poverty in China by 2020.
Since the introduction of the reform and opening up program in late 1978, China has lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty, a success hailed worldwide as a miracle. If China can eradicate absolute poverty 10 years earlier than what the international community plans to achieve, it will mean greater contributions China makes to poverty alleviation in the world arena. China’s achievements have benefitted a lot from the people-oriented policy of the CPC, the political advantage and the Chinese culture and value concept of great harmony. China is like a single entity, where “one place is in trouble, assistance comes from all quarters”, and those who get rich first will help others to get rich together.
CIIC has been devoted to poverty reduction initiatives in China. With their advantage in internet communication, China Development Gateway (CnDG), China’s Poverty Reduction Online and GPIG have committed themselves to sharing China’s experience on poverty alleviation and promoting international exchange.
To promote knowledge sharing, CIIC and IPRCC will jointly launch Poverty Reduction Case Database. In the form of a tree diagram, it shows different approaches to this cause. Foreign experts will be invited to help standardize the methodology and templates. By sorting out cases technically replicable, it introduces development strategy, practice, model, hot issues as well as experience on poverty alleviating, creating a platform for exchange among Chinese and international experts and professionals.
While putting forward the initiative of building a community of shared destiny for mankind, Chinese President Xi Jinping has also provided solutions on poverty reduction, which brings beautiful hopes to people suffering from poverty all over the world. In accordance with President Xi’s solutions, I hereby have four suggestions to make on how ICT can do in this regard:
First, promote global sustainable development, especially the soci-economic progress of other developing countries, through poverty reduction;
Second, improve the communication mechanism of knowledge sharing on poverty reduction, and draw international experience as we pursue innovative, coordinated, green, open and shared development, and, at the same time, work hard to unify knowledge and action;
Third, promote poverty reduction on the global basis through strengthened international cooperation in communication on knowledge sharing for poverty reduction; and
Fourth, implement the established plan and, at the same time, explore more effective models on poverty reduction through use of internet technology.
Ladies and gentlemen, everyone in the world knows there are two sayings in Rome: “Rome was not built in a day” and “all roads lead to Rome”. Let’s work together to achieve the ambitious goals of 2030 Agenda.
Finally, I would like to sincerely thank you for coming. I wish you good health, success, happiness and good luck!