China has pledged to deepen cooperation with countries of the Global South to address the persistent challenge of poverty. This week, the country’s Foreign Ministry stressed that Beijing will continue to support international poverty reduction efforts through practical cooperation, shared prosperity, and people-centred development.
Addressing a regular press conference on Friday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian reiterated that poverty reduction remains central to China’s approach to South-South Cooperation, noting that China’s achievements at home provide valuable lessons for other developing nations.
“Having lifted 800 million people out of poverty, China met the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda’s poverty reduction target ahead of schedule, inspiring confidence among Global South countries,” Lin stated.
“No one should be left behind in poverty eradication. We will continue to support global poverty reduction through concrete actions, fostering shared prosperity with Global South countries and nurturing hope on every land.” he remarked.
Lin pointed out that China’s success is rooted in tailored, demand-driven, and precise poverty alleviation strategies, supported by technical assistance, financial aid, capacity building, and infrastructure development.
He highlighted the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Global Development Initiative (GDI) as major platforms that have already lifted more than 40 million people worldwide out of poverty and mobilized nearly 20 billion U.S. dollars in development funding.
From irrigation wells to bridges, from Juncao cultivation to hybrid rice, Lin stated that China’s cooperation projects have delivered tangible benefits across Asia, Africa, and Latin America.
“These efforts have improved lives across the Global South, giving people hope,” Lin said.
President Xi Jinping has underscored China’s poverty alleviation campaign as evidence that development miracles are possible for all nations.
“China’s story is proof that developing countries can eliminate poverty, and that a weaker bird can start early and fly high when there is endurance, perseverance, and striving spirit,” Xi said. “If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too.”
Think Tank Report: Lessons from China
The renewed commitment coincides with the release of a new report by the Xinhua Institute, a high-level think tank, titled “Striving for a Better Life for the People: China’s Practical and Theoretical Innovations in Consolidating and Expanding Poverty Alleviation Achievements.”
The five-chapter report highlights China’s accomplishments since declaring victory over absolute poverty in 2021 and the measures taken to prevent any large-scale relapse during the ongoing five-year transitional period ending in 2025.
By the end of 2024, the report states that 33.05 million individuals from previously impoverished households will be in stable employment, while per capita disposable income in formerly poor counties is expected to reach 17,522 yuan (about 2,450 U.S. dollars), with a growth rate consistently higher than the national rural average.
China’s approach to poverty alleviation can be summarized through five key practices. It emphasizes dynamic monitoring and targeted support to prevent households from falling back into poverty, while also investing in rural infrastructure to close connectivity gaps. Stable employment opportunities are created through industrial development, complemented by the promotion of clustered specialty industries that enable farmers to share in the benefits of growth. In addition, targeted safety nets are established to protect vulnerable households, ensuring inclusive and sustainable progress.
These practices, the report argues, have ensured the continuity and sustainability of development.
Global Support
International voices have praised the report for offering replicable strategies. Mali’s Minister Mamou Daffe highlighted its insights into how industrial development fosters prosperity, while Hector Villagran-Cepeda, Ecuador’s former trade representative counsellor to China, described China’s experience as “valuable” for Global South nations seeking rural revitalization.
“China has not only resolved its own poverty issues but has also made significant contributions to global poverty reduction, setting an exemplary model,” said Pan Helin, an expert affiliated with China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.
According to the report, China’s poverty alleviation efforts represent more than a numerical victory; they signal an “elevation to a new form of civilization” that redefines the right to development. It emphasizes that poverty reduction is not a one-way aid relationship, but a “chorus of developing countries” based on solidarity, mutual empowerment, and shared growth.
From Ethiopian farmers harvesting golden wheat with Chinese-aided irrigation systems to Cambodian children studying in new schools and Brazilian youth starting businesses through e-commerce training, China’s model has delivered real-world impact across continents.
Looking ahead, the report predicts China will share its targeted poverty alleviation mechanisms, digital platforms for e-commerce, education, and healthcare, as well as green development technologies with partner nations under the BRI and GDI frameworks.
“Shaking off poverty is not the finish line, but the starting point of a new endeavour,” the report states. “The true essence of development lies in enabling every life to blossom with dignity, every piece of land to regain its vitality, and every dream to become a reality.”
