On May 12th, 2021, the Kaselehlie Press, the renowned newspaper in the FSM, published, in its Vol. 21 and Iss. 10, an article by H.E. Huang Zheng, Chinese Ambassador to the FSM, titled China's Path of Poverty Alleviation and Its Significance to the World. Below is its full text:
Poverty is a chronic affliction of human society and a common challenge faced by the whole world. China is the world's largest developing country, with a population of 1.4 billion, which had long been plagued by poverty at a scale and a level of severity that has rarely been seen anywhere else in the world. As a result, the challenge of poverty alleviation in China almost defies imagination.
At a grand gathering held on February 25, 2021, to mark China's achievements in poverty alleviation and to honor its model fighters against poverty, President Xi Jinping solemnly declared: Victory in the battle against poverty is complete, and China completed the arduous task of eliminating extreme poverty. As home to nearly one fifth of the world's population, China's complete eradication of extreme poverty, being the first target of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, 10 years ahead of schedule, is a milestone in the history of the Chinese nation and the history of humankind, making an important contribution to the cause of global poverty alleviation. In the future, a more prosperous China, having been lifted out of extreme poverty, will also be more open and inclusive. It will interact more constructively with the international community, and make a greater contribution to building a better world.
For the purpose of recording the course of the Chinese people's great fight in eliminating extreme poverty, introducing China's approach and sharing its experience and actions in poverty alleviation, the Chinese government issued a white paper in April, titled Poverty Alleviation: China's Experience and Contribution.
Year 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). Over the past century, the CPC has united and led the Chinese people in the battle against poverty with unwavering faith and will. Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, the CPC Central Committee, with General Secretary Xi Jinping at the core, has fought a decisive battle against poverty that is unprecedented in scale and intensity, and has benefited the largest number of people in human history. At the end of 2020, the 98.99 million people in rural areas who were living below the current poverty threshold (annual income of RMB 2,300 or USD 345 based on the 2010 price index) all shook off poverty; all the 128,000 impoverished villages and 832 designated poor counties got rid of poverty; poverty over entire regions in China has been eliminated.
There has been significant improvement in the living standards of the poor. The per capita disposable income of the rural poor increased from RMB 6,079 (or USD 912) in 2013 to RMB 12,588 (or USD 1,888) in 2020, up by 11.6% per annum on average. The "Two Assurances and Three Guarantees", which refers to guarantees of adequate food and clothing, access to compulsory education, basic medical services, and safe housing for impoverished rural residents, have been realized. Education, healthcare, housing and drinking water supplies are much improved. Poverty-stricken areas have got rid of backwardness in terms of infrastructure and public services, etc.. Those who have been lifted out of poverty adopt a new mindset. The rights of women, children, the elderly, the disabled and other special disadvantaged groups to basic needs and development are well protected. We have seen grassroots social governance in poverty-stricken areas significantly improved.
The strategy of "targeted poverty alleviation", derived from China's poverty elimination effort and tested in practice, is the strongest weapon in its final battle to secure victory against poverty, and a major innovation in the theory and practice of poverty alleviation. The core of the strategy lies in the following 5 aspects of work: I. identifying people in need to know whom to help; II. strengthening leadership and team-building to know how to offer help; III. applying targeted measures for different groups to know how to help; IV. adopting strict criteria to know when and how to deregister those who have emerged from poverty; V. conducting follow-up monitoring to help people stay out of poverty.
China has accumulated valuable experience in its cause of eliminating poverty and blazed a new path of poverty alleviation with Chinese characteristics. This path consists of 6 essential elements:
Firstly, a people-centered philosophy. The problem of poverty, in essence, is how the people should be treated. The people-centered philosophy, upheld by a country's ruling party or leading group, is the fundamental driving force behind the cause of poverty alleviation.
Secondly, highlighting poverty alleviation in the governance of a country. To achieve success, it is of utmost importance that the leadership have devotion, strong will and determination, and the ruling party and government assume their responsibilities to the people, play a leading role, mobilize forces from all quarters, and ensure policies are consistent and stable.
Thirdly, eradicating poverty through development. Only development can lead to economic growth, social progress and higher living standards. Only development can better guarantee people's basic rights and meet their desire for a better life.
Fourthly, pressing ahead with poverty alleviation based on reality. The occurrence and evolution of poverty has its own features and trends. To successfully reduce poverty, a country must follow a path in line with its national conditions, identify and remove obstacles to poverty alleviation, find driving forces for this cause, and constantly adjust and reform its strategies and policies.
Fifthly, letting the poor play the principal role. The government needs to serve the people, rely on them, respect their principal status and pioneering spirit and motivate the poor to rely on their own hard work.
Sixthly, pooling all resources to create synergy. It is required that we mobilize all sectors of society to unite with common purpose and act in solidarity.
Under the CPC leadership, the Chinese people have created an approach to poverty alleviation with their own hard work. China's successful practice and valuable experience in eliminating extreme poverty have deepened human understanding of poverty alleviation trends, enriched and extended the theory of international poverty alleviation, and boosted the confidence of other countries, especially developing ones, in eradicating extreme poverty. They serve as reference for other countries to choose a suitable path of poverty alleviation, and offer China's approach to solving the problem of modern national governance and creating brighter prospects for social progress, which belongs both to China itself and to the rest of the world.
The world today is experiencing a scale of change unseen in a century. The kind of world we should build and the future direction of human civilization, are issues that have a bearing on every country and every person. Everyone has the right to a decent life. All countries need to shoulder their responsibilities and work on poverty reduction. China has always closely linked its future with that of the rest of the world and will act as an advocate, facilitator of and contributor to the international cause of poverty alleviation as usual. China is ready to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with other countries, including the FSM, on poverty reduction, support international poverty reduction, and make a greater contribution to building a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity that is free from poverty and blessed with common prosperity.