Pakistani Officials Recognize China’s Poverty Alleviation Success During Beijing Seminar
In a significant collaborative venture aimed at understanding and potentially replicating poverty reduction strategies, a delegation consisting of 19 Pakistani officials, business figures, and experts from varied regions including Islamabad, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Punjab, recently attended a two-week seminar in Beijing. This initiative stands as a part of the 2024 bilateral training programs afforded through Chinese aid, emphasizing a mutual commitment towards eradicating poverty.
The comprehensive seminar was orchestrated by the China Center for Urban Development under the National Development and Reform Commission. The session covered an extensive range of topics pivotal to the poverty alleviation narrative in China. Discussions delved into the intricacies of China’s land system, the trajectory of urbanization development, strategic relocations for poverty alleviation, industrial policies and practices, ensuring food security, the advancement of smart agriculture, and the enhancement of rural public services. The program wrapped up on July 24, highlighting a productive discourse on combating poverty with sustainable solutions.
As part of their empirical learning, the delegation took their inquiries to the field with visits to Guizhou Province’s Zunyi and Bijie Cities, regions that stand testament to China’s committed efforts towards poverty alleviation and rural revitalization. Particularly in Zhijin County, the delegates were introduced to the age-old Miao ethnic group’s batik and embroidery arts, a tradition spanning over 2,000 years. By exploring local production workshops and folk villages, they gained insights into the crafts’ commercial viability, and its role in enhancing local employability and incomes.
A standout visit was made to Huawu, a village that epitomizes the transformation from poverty to a picturesque representation of prosperity, with its well-maintained roads and quaint antique houses. The delegation lauded the village’s holistic approach to intertwining poverty alleviation with rural revitalization, observing notable improvements across ecological, industrial, and cultural dimensions.
Interspersed with these insightful visits were exchange sessions that fostered a rich dialogue on the current status and future directions of poverty reduction, the upgrading of public services, and sustainable development initiatives within the delegates’ respective provinces. Further, these discussions opened pathways to explore deeper bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan in poverty alleviation, particularly under the ambit of the “Belt and Road” initiative.
An expression of heartfelt gratitude towards China’s willingness to share its blueprint for poverty reduction was a common sentiment among the delegates. One participant voiced, “I am profoundly thankful to China for sharing its successful poverty alleviation experiences and results. Pakistan faces significant challenges in rural development and poverty alleviation, but seeing China’s achievements has strengthened our confidence in overcoming these challenges by applying the lessons learned.”
The seminar not only served as a platform for sharing knowledge and best practices but also underscored the importance of international cooperation in addressing global issues like poverty. With the insights and lessons garnered from this seminar, the delegation is poised to contribute significantly to Pakistan’s poverty alleviation endeavors, drawing inspiration from China’s comprehensive strategies and tangible successes.
