Chinese premier holds welcome ceremony for visiting Slovak PM

Chinese Premier Li Qiang held a welcome ceremony for Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Beijing on Friday morning.

The military band played the national anthems of Slovakia and China at the ceremony held at the Great Hall of the People.

Fico, accompanied by Li, reviewed the guard of honor of the Chinese People's Liberation Army.

Fico is on an official visit to China from Oct 31 to Nov 5 at the invitation of Li.

Leaders and experts involved in poverty alleviation efforts worldwide gathered in Beijing on Thursday for the 2024 Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum, where China's commitment and contribution to global fight against poverty took center stage.

In over four decades, China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty. But it hasn't stopped there -- the country is now taking steps to build on this achievement and ensure millions don't slip back into destitution, while also reaffirming its commitment to global efforts aimed at alleviating poverty.

"Poverty reduction and development are the common themes of human society and carry people's aspirations for a better life. Looking to the future, China seeks to share experiences in poverty reduction, food security, agricultural science and technology, and implement pragmatic projects to benefit more countries," said Zhang Zhili, an official of the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

The agriculture ministry says China's hybrid rice is now sown on nearly 70 countries across five continents. In many African nations, yields have skyrocketed from an average of two tons to an impressive 7.5 tons per hectare. China has also launched numerous programs and offered aid and technical support to developing countries in agricultural production and rural development.

Under the China-initiated Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, Myanmar has worked with 118 projects from 2017 to 2024 with a budget of 35.2 million U.S. dollars, official data showed.

"Through the result of the project, we can learn a lot of lessons. We will continue the partnership with China, and also all global partnerships, including ASEAN," said U Khant Zaw, permanent secretary of Myanmar's Ministry of Cooperatives and Rural Development.

From December 1, 2024, China will extend zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of tariff lines for products originating from all least developed countries (LDCs) that maintain diplomatic relations with China.

"In our meeting with the Chinese ambassador in Afghanistan, he said the tariff for Afghan agricultural exports will come down to zero. We can bring more Afghan agriculture and livestock production to the Chinese market. We hope we can strengthen this relationship in the future," said Sadr Azam Usmani, Afghan vice minister of Agriculture, Irrigation and Livestock.

In Africa, China has set up and implemented 47 poverty reduction and agricultural projects, trained close to 9,000 agricultural personnel, shared over 300 advanced and applicable technologies, and benefited over one million smallholders under its poverty reduction and agricultural development program, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

"Agriculture is modernized by mechanization and more technology transfer to the developing countries, so it can have a positive impact in the production. We have a Chinese demonstration center in my country where Chinese engineers come and demonstrate practices," said Abdourahmane Diouf, first counselor of Senegal to China.

The fight against poverty is a collective endeavor that transcends borders. As stakeholders from around the globe come together, there is renewed hope that through shared commitment, the world can make progress toward eradicating poverty and ensuring that no one gets hungry.