China shares its poverty relief model

SINCE reform and opening-up began in the late 1970s, China has considered development a basic human right.

The government has been focusing on economic development and making great efforts in poverty relief projects, mobilising the whole society to solve the poverty problem. In more than 30 years, China has drastically reduced the number of people living in poverty and played an important role in global poverty relief, serving as a model for developing countries.

During the country’s 12th Five-Year Planning Period (2010-15), China has been facing pressure from an economic downturn. But it still managed to make great achievement in poverty relief, fulfilling the goal of lifting more than 10 million people out of poverty in 2013 and 2014.

China’s poverty relief work has irreplaceable global significance. Based on existing South-South co-operation, China is also promoting the “Belt and Road” initiative, the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the New Development Bank of the Brics countries. By boosting urban and rural infrastructure construction in developing countries, China will help the developing countries release their potential productivity, raise income levels and reduce the number of people in poverty.

From the perspective of global development, China has been walking on a path of peace, harmony, inclusiveness and shared prosperity. It has not only seen tremendous economic and social development domestically, but has also helped other countries to develop. This is what a responsible world power should do. The 2015 Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum held in Beijing in October was an important occasion where China shared with the world its concept of development and fulfilled its commitments after its economic achievements.

The significance of China’s development does not only lie in providing affordable quality products for the world. It is also important that China shares its experience of success and helps more developing countries shrug off poverty and get on the right track of development.

The author is an associate professor with the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy of the National University of Singapore. This article is published with permission from People’s Daily.