Senior representatives from international organizations visited a poverty-free county in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality from Wednesday to Friday, exploring China's poverty alleviation achievements and discussing future cooperation in rural development.
At the invitation of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), high-level officials from the China offices of organizations such as the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) visited Pengshui Miao-Tujia Autonomous County, a once-poor region in southwestern Chongqing that has now successfully eliminated poverty.
Officials visited local hospitals, schools, and businesses, and were deeply impressed by the lasting socio-economic progress of the once impoverished area, particularly how local ethnic minority groups have harnessed local resources to overcome poverty.
"This is my first visit to Pengshui. The infrastructure, education, and overall agricultural development here have left a deep impression on me. According to international statistics, China has successfully lifted nearly 800 million people out of poverty over the past few decades. This is a remarkable achievement," said Zhao Bing, representative and country director of the WFP China Office.
"I first visited poverty counties in Chongqing 20 years ago. So for me, it's a real pleasure and privilege to come back today to see the developments here. So for example, with the development of the county hospitals and the strengthening of community healthcare, they don't need to travel a long way to get the healthcare," said Martin Taylor, WHO representative to China.
During the visit, the delegation also shared their thoughts on Pengshui's future development, expressing their willingness to use their respective professional advantages and international influence to explore cooperation in sectors such as tourism, modern agriculture, education, and healthcare, tailored to the region's unique needs and conditions.
"My impressions of Pengshui, it is very much China's largest success of rural revitalization, of ending poverty, of lifting people up, of creating a more moderately prosperous society. From here, many lessons can be shared with many parts of the developing world," said Siddharth Chatterjee, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in China.
Int'l delegation hails success of poverty alleviation, rural revitalization in China
