China has reiterated its unwavering support for Africa’s quest to find new pathways to modernization and poverty alleviation. Speaking at a regular press conference in Beijing on Monday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian highlighted China’s commitment to assisting Africa in overcoming poverty and achieving sustainable development.
Responding to queries about China-Africa poverty reduction cooperation, Lin noted that poverty eradication is a shared mission of humanity and a common aspiration of the African people. He emphasized that poverty reduction has always been a significant aspect of China-Africa cooperation.
“Over the years, under the principles of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith, as well as pursuing the greater good and shared interests, we have actively implemented the Program for Strengthening Cooperation on Poverty Reduction between China and the African Union,” Lin said. “Our efforts within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) have yielded remarkable results.”
Lin detailed China’s contributions, stating that 47 poverty reduction and agricultural projects have been set up and executed across Africa. These initiatives have trained nearly 9,000 agricultural personnel, shared over 300 advanced and applicable technologies, and benefited more than a million smallholder farmers.
Highlighting China’s Juncao technology, Lin explained how it has enabled hundreds of thousands of Africans to increase their income. He also mentioned the impact of China’s hybrid rice, which has helped boost rice yields in many African countries from an average of 2 tonnes to 7.5 tonnes per hectare. Chinese experts are establishing demonstration villages for rice cultivation, aiming to fulfill the dream that “every mouth has food and every pocket has money.”
Lin noted that agricultural cooperation parks and processing plants established by Chinese companies have added significant value to local agricultural products. “We have opened ‘green lanes’ for African agricultural products, allowing high-quality African produce to enter the Chinese market,” he said.
Under the “100 Companies in 1,000 Villages” initiative, Chinese enterprises operating in Africa have launched 320 corporate social responsibility projects, benefiting over 10,000 villages and communities. China has also organized several seminars on poverty reduction and development for African officials to share experiences and strategies.
China-Africa cooperation extends beyond agriculture. Lin emphasized that such collaboration is aiding African nations in advancing their industrialization processes, fostering economic self-reliance, and enhancing global competitiveness. He cited examples like Nigeria’s Lekki Free Trade Zone and the China-Egypt TEDA Suez Economic and Trade Cooperation Zone, which have attracted foreign investment and developed industry clusters promoting “Made in Africa” products worldwide.
Furthermore, China has established 17 Luban Workshops in 15 African countries to improve local employment prospects by providing vocational training and skill development.
“We stand ready to continue working with Africa at the upcoming 2024 FOCAC Summit to advance poverty alleviation and create a brighter future for the African people,” Lin concluded.
(With input from Xinhua)
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China has always staunchly supported Africa's poverty alleviation
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