You Are Pakistan

By He Yin, People’s Daily

The largest desert in China, the Taklimakan has been completely encircled by a green belt stretching 3,046 km as of late November, thanks to more than four decades of efforts as part of China’s Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program (TSFP), the world’s largest afforestation program to tackle desertification.

This great achievement has captured worldwide attention. The international community observes that the TSFP has not only contributed to the global combat against desertification, but also increased the global forest coverage rate. They praised the program as the “green Great Wall” that China fortifies to fend off the challenges arising from climate change.

The Taklimakan Desert is China’s largest and the world’s second-largest drifting desert. The completion of the ecological barrier vividly demonstrates China’s battle against desertification.

After over 40 years of unremitting efforts, China has blazed a special path of desertification prevention and control with Chinese characteristics. Environmental conservation and improving people’s well-being have entered a virtuous cycle. The country has become a global model for desertification control.

So far, China has effectively rehabilitated 53 percent of its treatable desertified land, with the area of desertified land decreasing by 65 million mu (about 4.3 million hectares). It is the first country in the world to achieve zero growth in land degradation, and the first to reduce the area of desertified and sandy land.

To be specific, Saihanba in north China’s Hebei province has transformed from a desolate land into the world’s largest man-made forest, thanks to the dedication of three generations of foresters to the Saihanba afforestation project; most of the sand land in the Mu Us Desert, which stretches from north China’s Inner Mongolia autonomous region to Shaanxi province, has been brought under control; the Kubuqi Desert, China’s seventh-largest desert, has explored a brand new approach to combating desertification through industrial development.

The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) Secretariat has twice honored China for its “outstanding contribution to combating desertification”, praising its significant contributions to global desertification control.

The 16th Conference of the Parties (COP16) to the UNCCD held in Riyadh, capital of Saudi Arabia, set up the China Pavilion, which marked the first time that China showcased its achievements in desertification control, particularly through the TSFP.

“I was moved by the images of different generations of Chinese people fighting desertification and by China’s leadership in this process,” said Andrea Meza Murillo, UNCCD deputy executive secretary.

She emphasized that effective policies, community and local government involvement, as well as innovation and technology, are key components of China’s success.

The achievements in desertification control reflect China’s relentless efforts to advance ecological conservation. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the country has ensured stronger ecological conservation and environmental protection across the board, in all regions, and at all times.

China has achieved a significant transformation from remediation of major areas to systematic governance; realized an important shift from passively responding to ecological issues to taking proactive actions to address them; has become a leader from a participant in global environmental governance; and has realized a major shift from practical-exploration-based conservation to the one with theoretical guidance.

China’s forest coverage ratio and forest stock volume have both been on the rise for 40 consecutive years. The country ranks first in the world in terms of forest resource growth and afforestation area. It has contributed to one forth of the world’s newly added green areas.

China is also contributing to the global fight against desertification with firm and concrete actions.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of China’s adoption of the UNCCD. Over the past three decades, China has been actively involved in global desertification governance within the framework of UNCCD.

It promoted the establishment of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC), setting up the strategic framework and objectives; established an office for UNCCD implementation and formulated a national action plan; and set up regional mechanisms to promote regional cooperation on UNCCD fulfillment.

Besides, China hosted the COP 13 to the UNCCD and carried out cooperation on desertification control within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). It has held nine sessions of the Kubuqi International Desert Forum to promote international policy dialogue and exchanges.

China is also actively sharing its technologies and experiences of desertification control with other developing countries, pursuing green development together with the Global South.

It has established an international training center and an international knowledge management center on combating desertification together with the UNCCD Secretariat. Besides, the country trains nearly 100 professionals in this field each year for developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America, by hosting international seminars and setting up demonstration bases for desertification control.

It has taken the initiative to align with the Great Green Wall initiative launched by the African Union and the Saudi Arabia-led Middle East Green Initiative, within the frameworks of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF). It has also established the China-Arab International Research Center on Drought, Desertification, and Land Degradation.

The prevention and control of desertification is a great cause bearing on the sustainable development of all humanity. China will keep acting as a participant and leader in global desertification control, and work with all parties to advance ecological conservation and promote sustainable development for a clean and beautiful world.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

On December 2, Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the fourth symposium on Belt and Road construction work in Beijing and delivered an important speech.

He acknowledged the major achievements in Belt and Road cooperation and made comprehensive arrangements for promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in the present and near future, providing important guidance and charting the course forward for promoting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation in the next golden decade.

As changes of the world, the times and history unfold, Xi’s groundbreaking proposal of the BRI has become a milestone of historic significance in the history of human development.

Since the BRI was put forth in 2013, the Belt and Road cooperation has consistently embraced the Silk Road spirit of peace and cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefits. It has stayed committed to the principle of “planning together, building together, and benefiting together.” The sectors and scope of Belt and Road cooperation have continued to expand, while the level of cooperation has been further elevated.

The cooperation has demonstrated greater international appeal, influence, and rallying power, and has made major achievements, making China’s contribution to enhancing friendship with Belt and Road participating countries and boosting their economic and social development.

So far, more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations have signed Belt and Road cooperation documents. China has hosted three sessions of the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, and has established over 20 specialized multilateral cooperation platforms under the BRI.

This year, China signed the plans for the promotion of cooperation in jointly building the Belt and Road with countries including Egypt, Timor-Leste, and Peru. Brazil also joined the Belt and Road international cooperation family.

“Never before in history has any initiative brought together over 150 countries like the BRI,” said Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank.

Belt and Road cooperation transcends differences between civilizations, cultures, social systems, and stages of development. It represents humanity’s joint pursuit of development for all, represents the advancing of the times, and is the right path forward.

Through high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China shares with the rest of the world the development opportunities of Chinese modernization, injecting more confidence and strength into global peace and development.

Last year, China announced eight major steps it will take to support the joint pursuit of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, demonstrating its commitment to deepening Belt and Road partnerships and building an open, inclusive and interconnected world for common development. With these concrete actions, China has demonstrated its role as a responsible major country.

The BRI and its core principles have been written into documents from the United Nations (UN), the G20, APEC, and other international and regional organizations. Its role as a driver and leader of global development continues to strengthen.

A recent report by Brussels-based think tank Bruegel revealed that since its inception, the BRI has appeared nearly 1,000 times in UN documents, with over 500 mentions in 2019 alone. This underscores the global vision embodied in this Chinese initiative.

Belt and Road cooperation was proposed by China, but its benefits and opportunities are for the world to share.

China and the Belt and Road partner countries have achieved fruitful results in “hard connectivity” of infrastructure. The China-Europe freight train network has expanded to 227 cities in 25 European countries; the Silk Road Maritime routes connect 145 ports across 46 countries globally; and the air Silk Road links 104 cities in 54 countries. A large number of signature projects and “small yet smart” people-centered programs have been launched.

China and the Belt and Road partner countries are also steadily advancing “soft connectivity” of rules and standards. China has signed 113 standardization agreement documents with 69 countries and international organizations, and inked 23 free trade agreements with 30 countries and regions, with prominent improvement in trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

China and the Belt and Road partner countries have been deepening “heart connectivity” between peoples. China has set up the Chinese government scholarship Silk Road Program and launched the Action on Silk Road People-to-People Connectivity. The flourishing exchanges between non-governmental organizations, think tanks, media organizations and the youth have composed a symphony of friendship for the Belt and Road cooperation.

Conforming to the new trends of global development, high-quality Belt and Road cooperation is witnessing new highlights and releasing new vitality in green, digital and innovative development. It is injecting fresh impetus into the global economy, creating new opportunities for global development, and building a new platform for international economic cooperation for win-win outcomes among partner countries.

Belt and Road cooperation has entered the new stage of high-quality development. China is ready to work hand in hand with Belt and Road partner countries and continue adhering to the principle of “planning together, building together, and benefiting together,” and the philosophy of open, green and clean cooperation, and the goal of pursuing high-standard, people-centered and sustainable cooperation, follow through on the eight major measures for supporting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and focus on connectivity.

China will work to improve and promote the high-quality Belt and Road cooperation mechanism, create new space for win-win development at a higher level and with greater resilience and sustainability.

These efforts aim to support the modernization of countries worldwide and contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

China’s State Council Information Office on Nov. 29 released a white paper titled “China’s Rural Roads in the New Era” to introduce the achievements and vision of rural road development in the new era and to share China’s experience.

China has explored an approach to developing rural roads in light of its realities. Over the years, it has shared its experience in rural road development and helped construct rural road infrastructure in other developing countries, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to global poverty reduction, people’s wellbeing and sustainable global development.

Easy access to convenient roads brings happiness to the doorstep. Following a people-centered development approach, China has worked vigorously to meet people’s needs for quality transport.

Upgraded and newly-built rural roads have added up to over 2.5 million kilometers over the past decade. By the end of 2023, the length of rural roads had reached 4.6 million kilometers, accounting for 84.6 percent of the total road length in China.

This safe and convenient transport network has brought about a remarkable transformation in Chinese rural areas, connecting villages and towns to the outside world and expanding bus services to villages. The ongoing development of rural roads will continue to bring benefits to China’s agriculture, rural areas and rural population.

Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN Development System Resident Coordinator in China, said that in China, he saw many outstanding examples of high-quality rural roads that were properly built, managed, maintained, and operated, as well as the resilience of the Chinese transport system.

At present, rural transport is still a bottleneck constraining the economic and social development of many developing countries. China is making concrete efforts to strengthen mutually beneficial transport cooperation with the international community, enabling impoverished areas in more countries to embrace greater prosperity.

The Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative proposed by China have given full play to the foundational role of transport in bolstering economic and social development, injecting strong momentum into common progress.

In 2018, a resolution initiated and promoted by China – Eradicating Rural Poverty to Implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development – was adopted by the UN General Assembly, emphasizing further poverty reduction efforts through infrastructure construction.

By sharing its development experiences through international cooperation mechanisms and helping with the construction of rural road infrastructure in other developing countries, China has made active contributions to global rural road development and poverty reduction.

To improve the wellbeing of humanity, China has played an active role in building new platforms and mechanisms for global transport cooperation and in promoting knowledge and experience sharing. It has met its responsibilities as a major country with practical actions.

China is promoting “soft connectivity” by sharing Chinese standards. Since 2012, the country has released 73 industry standards for highway engineering in foreign languages. They represent a systematic effort in building industry standards in foreign languages and have been applied in hundreds of projects in dozens of countries around the world.

China hosted the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference in 2021 and the Global Sustainable Transport Forum in 2023, and has established the Global Sustainable Transport Innovation and Knowledge Center, proactively building new platforms and mechanisms for global transport cooperation.

When it comes to international transport training, China has held 28 training sessions for more than 800 people, including a training program on road design and management in Botswana, an advanced training program on highway engineering for Belt and Road partner countries, a training program for technical personnel in highway engineering in other developing countries, and a training program on road network planning.

China has supported and participated in rural road construction projects in other developing countries, improving people’s wellbeing and promoting sustainable development.

For instance, a post-disaster reconstruction project implemented by the Ministry of Transport and Public Works of Ecuador with China’s support has significantly improved access to transport for around 1.5 million people along the route; and the road construction project on the fringes of the capital of Madagascar, supported by free aid from China, has made it easier to transport eggs from the town of Mahazaza and facilitated the development of local poultry farming. It is known by the locals as the “egg road.”

Since 2018, China has supported 24 developing countries including Cambodia, Serbia, Rwanda, Namibia, Vanuatu and Niger in highway and bridge construction and maintenance. By participating in construction projects and providing technical support and human resource support, China has helped improve rural road infrastructure of these countries, make travel much easier for local people, and reduce logistic costs by a large margin.

Rural roads help to connect beautiful scenery, drive the development of local industries, grow the local economy, and benefit the local people. In a spirit of openness and mutually-beneficial cooperation, China will strengthen international exchanges and collaboration in exploring new models and paths of rural road development, further contributing to global rural road development and poverty reduction, and building a global community of shared future.

By Hua Ping, People’s Daily

China’s annual production of new energy vehicles (NEVs) exceeded 10 million units this year, and this reminds many of Tesla’s story in the country.

In April 2018, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China would ease as soon as possible foreign equity restrictions, in automobile industry in particular.

Three months later, Tesla unveiled a plan to set up a factory in Shanghai, with a total investment of 50 billion yuan ($6.91 billion) and an annual capacity of 500,000 units. In January 2019, construction work of the factory commenced and the first vehicle manufactured by the plant rolled off production line in December that year.

The Shanghai Gigafactory of Tesla is the first wholly foreign-owned NEV manufacturing project in China. It was commenced, completed and put into operation in the same year. As it provides huge opportunities for Tesla, the plant also generates the “catfish effect,” forcing Chinese carmakers to speed up innovation.

One of the important reasons for China to be able to produce more than 10 million NEVs in a year is that Chinese carmakers, amid fierce competition in an open environment and facing the “catfish effect,” stood up to challenges and actively sought for changes.

In this open competition, Chinese carmakers have sharpened their capabilities, making China the world’s most dynamic innovation hub of NEV technology. In 2023, China became the largest vehicle exporter globally. It sold over 1.2 million NEVs to other parts of the world, up 77.6 percent year on year.

Since Nov. 1, a new version of the negative list for foreign investment access has come into effect, reducing the number of restrictions from 31 to 29. It indicates China’s resolution in promoting higher-level opening up, as well as the country’s courage to improve its opening-up capability and build new competitiveness through expanded international cooperation.

The “10-million-units” milestone is based on the accelerated integration between technological innovation and industrial innovation. A batch of Chinese NEV brands have emerged, becoming pace setters in sales and production, core technology and intelligent technology.

The “10-million-units” milestone marks a “green achievement” of the global new energy industry. It signifies a new starting point of high-quality development for Chinese NEV manufacturers, and mirrors the rapid growth of new quality productive forces characterized by green development.

Green and low-carbon development is a general trend that cannot be stopped by “small yard, high fences.” In the first three quarters of this year, China exported 928,000 NEVs, up 12.5 percent from a year ago. This proves global consumers’ recognition for quality products and pursuit of green and low-carbon development, despite tariff hikes on these Chinese products.

Win-win cooperation creates a bright future, while exclusiveness only leads to a dead end. Win-win cooperation is the sure way to success in launching major initiatives that benefit all.

Leveraging its advantages in technology and brand influence, as well as the super large Chinese consumption market, Tesla has seen a significant rise in its sales that is also driving the rapid development of the industrial and supply chains.

Currently, over 95 percent of parts used at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory are produced locally, and over 60 suppliers have entered the company’s global supply chain system.

Thanks to China’s complete supply chain system and top-notch intelligent manufacturing, a vehicle is rolling off the production line at Tesla’s Shanghai Gigafactory every 30 seconds. In 2023, Tesla vehicles manufactured in China accounted for over half of the company’s global production, and 36 percent of the vehicles manufactured in China were exported.

Tesla’s success in the Chinese market is a win-win and all-win outcome. It conforms to the general trend of global division of labor in the industrial and supply chains in the era of economic globalization. It showcases the philosophy of win-win cooperation and harmonious coexistence.

Today, more and more multinational carmakers are leveraging China’s advantages in market, technology and institutional opening up to realize their “coming to China for global success” goal. Chinese NEV manufacturers, by establishing overseas production facilities in Hungary, Spain, Myanmar, Malaysia, Brazil and more, are contributing their part to global green and low-carbon transition.

On Nov. 14, local time, the Chancay Port in Peru, an important project under Belt and Road cooperation between China and Peru, was inaugurated. It is the first intelligent and green port in South America. It will create over 8,000 jobs directly for Peru each year and generate revenue of $4.5 billion. A new land-sea corridor between Asia and Latin America is taking shape.

All people live in an interdependent world and rise and fall together. Only by maximizing consensus on win-win and all-win cooperation can a bright future be created.

Chinese path to modernization is a modernization that follows the path of peaceful development. Following the philosophy of win-win cooperation, China is continuously providing new opportunities for global development with its own modernization achievements. It is ready to work with all parties to advance global modernization featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.

Advancing reform and development through opening up, China now has more confidence and composure.

Our shared future depends on Earth. Working together for a shared future of humanity with a more open and inclusive mindset, the world will soon embrace another milestone achievement in green development.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

China has been deepening international cooperation in poverty reduction, continuously sharing its anti-poverty experiences with other developing countries.

For instance, the Cambodia-China Friendship Village for Poverty Alleviation Project has brought enormous changes to local impoverished villages, significantly improving villagers’ livelihood; and in Madagascar, with hands-on guidance from Chinese agricultural experts, local farmers saw a substantial increase in hybrid rice yields.

In Fiji, China’s Juncao technology has not only enabled local farmers to grow high-quality edible and medicinal mushrooms, but also boosted livestock farming by providing premium livestock feed; and in Guyana, solar-powered streetlights donated by Chinese companies illuminate the nights of Moraikobai village, making it safer in the dark for villagers.

These cooperation stories highlight China’s active role and lasting contributions to global poverty alleviation efforts.

“China will always be a member of the Global South, a reliable long-term partner of fellow developing countries, and a doer and go-getter working for the cause of global development,”

These remarks were made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in his speech on Fight Against Hunger and Poverty at the Session I of the 19th G20 Summit.

During the speech, Xi once again pointed out that prosperity and stability would not be possible in a world where the rich become richer while the poor are made poorer, and countries should make global development more inclusive, beneficial to all, and more resilient. He also outlined China’s eight actions for global development.

His remarks fully demonstrated that China, always maintaining a global vision, is committed to building a just world of common development with all parties and is always ready to help people in other developing countries break free from poverty.

China is always active in sharing its experiences in poverty alleviation and supporting developing countries in exploring their own unique approaches to poverty reduction and sustainable development in line with their specific national conditions.

China has hosted a range of seminars and exchange activities, including the ASEAN-China Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction, the International Forum on Sharing Poverty Reduction Experience, the Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference, and the International Seminar on Poverty Eradication and Responsibility of Political Parties, to share its poverty reduction experiences with other developing countries.

It has trained over 400,000 development personnel for over 180 countries and regions, significantly enhancing their capacity building in poverty reduction.

In August this year, during an official visit to China, Prime Minister of the Republic of Fiji Sitiveni Rabuka toured two villages in Malipo county, Zhuang and Miao autonomous prefecture of Wenshan, southwest China’s Yunnan province, to learn about China’s poverty alleviation and rural revitalization.

He also visited a poverty eradication-themed exhibition in Ningde, southeast China’s Fujian province, where he had exchanges with the Party School of Ningde Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China on poverty reduction experiences and took extensive notes. He was impressed by the remarkable achievements in poverty eradication and development that China has accomplished under Xi’s leadership.

Pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation is an important part of China’s eight actions for global development.

In 2019, Xi delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, during which he stressed, “We need to take a people-centered approach, give priority to poverty alleviation and job creation to see that the joint pursuit of Belt and Road cooperation will deliver true benefits to the people of participating countries and contribute to their social and economic development.”

Since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was proposed over 11 years ago, China has signed BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations, yielding a large number of signature projects and “small yet beautiful” programs focusing on improving people’s livelihood.

According to a research report by the World Bank, by 2030, the BRI is expected to lift 7.6 million people in partner countries out of extreme poverty and 32 million people out of moderate poverty. The practical Belt and Road cooperation has provided significant momentum to global poverty reduction efforts.

Poverty alleviation is one of the eight priority areas of cooperation under the Global Development Initiative (GDI), and the implementation of the initiative will significantly advance global efforts to reduce poverty.

In 2021, Xi proposed the GDI at the general debate of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly, where he emphasized the importance to stay committed to development as a priority, stay committed to a people-centered approach, and stay committed to benefits for all. He said that the GDI aims to build a global community of development, safeguard and improve people’s livelihoods through development, and address unbalanced and inadequate development among and within countries.

Three years on, the GDI has helped make available nearly $20 billion in development funding and launch more than 1,100 projects. More than 100 countries and international organizations have supported and participated in the GDI, and more than 80 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI.

China has consistently highlighted development as the “golden key” to tackling poverty issues.

In September this year, at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Xi noted that China will work vigorously with Africa to promote personnel training, poverty reduction and employment, enhance the sense of gain, happiness and security of the people in the course of modernization, and ensure that all will benefit from the process.

He announced that in the next three years, China will work with Africa to take ten partnership actions for modernization, many of which will help African countries reduce poverty.

In addition, China is pursuing high-standard opening up, and unilaterally opening its doors wider to the least developed countries (LDCs). It has announced the decision to give all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. These measures expanding market access for their products are expected to improve people’s livelihood and deliver tangible poverty-reduction outcomes in these countries.

It is the common aspiration of developing countries to build a just world of common development, leave poverty in the past, and turn the vision of poverty eradication into reality. China will continue working hand in hand with other countries to create a world where peaceful development, mutual benefit, and shared prosperity are the hallmarks of modernization, and strive for the goal of eradicating poverty through common development.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

Recently, the launch ceremony of the Portuguese edition of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s book on poverty relief, “Up and Out of Poverty,” and a seminar on the governance of China and Brazil were held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Osmar Junior, executive secretary of Brazil’s Ministry of Development and Social Assistance, Family and Fight against Hunger, noted that over 30 years ago, while working in Chinese impoverished areas, Xi led the local people in finding suitable ways out of poverty. His book “Up and Out of Poverty” holds even greater significance in a world of turbulence and transformation, added Junior.

Junior noted that the book shares profound insights into national governance and social development, offering valuable lessons on poverty alleviation and sustainable development.

As the world’s largest developing country, China has always given top priority to the fight against poverty in its national governance. It has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, setting an example for global poverty reduction.

In this process hailed as “the greatest leap to overcome poverty in history,” China has blazed a poverty reduction trail and formed an anti-poverty theory with Chinese characteristics. Many of the experiences are worth learning from for other countries, which is why books like “Up and Out of Poverty” have become essential reading for many international dignitaries.

In the battle against poverty, the Communist Party of China (CPC) has fully leveraged its role in overall planning and coordinated the efforts of all sides, forming a magnificent force of unity and action to fight poverty.

China has included poverty alleviation in its Five-sphere Integrated Plan and the Four-pronged Comprehensive Strategy; worked to ensure that secretaries of Party committees at the provincial, city, county, township, and village levels tackled poverty alleviation as a major priority, and that all Party members were mobilized in the fight; and assigned 255,000 work teams and more than 3 million first secretaries and officials to villages nationwide, where they worked on the front lines of poverty reduction.

Uzbekistan has intensified efforts to reduce poverty in recent years, piloting China’s anti-poverty experience in various regions across the country. Nearly 10,000 Uzbeks have participated in online training programs introducing China’s experience and practices.

The country has achieved significant results in poverty reduction, creating a community-based anti-poverty system that involves the establishment of assistance registries for impoverished households, women and youth, which is a key component of anti-poverty efforts.

The ancient Chinese philosopher Han Fei Zi said, “The key to achieving your aspirations lies not in overcoming others, but in overcoming your own weaknesses.” Similarly, to shake off poverty, it is essential to shake off the mindset of poverty.

China has remained committed to mobilizing the enthusiasm, initiative, and creativity of impoverished people so that they have the drive to lift themselves out of poverty.

Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat noted that he felt a strong sense of self-reliance in China’s poverty alleviation endeavors, which he believes is the fundamental principle behind China’s fascinating achievements in poverty reduction.

A targeted approach is the crux of the fight against poverty. China followed a targeted and development-driven strategy in poverty alleviation, under which development is fundamental to eliminate the root causes of poverty.

China adopted a set of targeted policies tailored to local conditions, such as setting up a national registration system and assigning officials to villages to identify the targets of poverty alleviation and determine who to help; establishing a poverty exit mechanism and giving counties a five-year period of grace from the day they emerged from poverty to make clear how to help, how to apply an exit mechanism for those who have emerged from poverty, and how to ensure that people do not return to poverty.

China has launched five key measures through which people would be lifted out of poverty, namely new economic activities, relocation from uninhabitable areas, recompense for eco-protection, education, and social assistance for basic needs. Besides, China has set standards in six areas to ensure the precision of work: identifying the poor accurately, arranging targeted programs, utilizing capital efficiently, taking house-based measures, dispatching first Party secretaries based on village conditions, and achieving the set goals.

Targeted poverty alleviation has proved to be China’s “magic weapon” for winning the battle against poverty, and a major innovation in the theory and practice of poverty reduction, greatly enriching and expanding the pathways for poverty reduction for humanity.

Drawing on China’s targeted poverty alleviation approach, Khon Kaen province in Thailand has achieved tangible results in poverty reduction. A local official said that China not only allows the world to understand the importance of targeted poverty alleviation and see the possibility of poverty eradication, but also provides the courage and experience to address poverty issues.

In December 2018, the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly adopted the first-ever resolution addressing poverty eradication in rural areas, which contains the Chinese concept of “targeted poverty alleviation.”

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke highly of the Chinese experience, saying targeted poverty reduction strategies are the only way to reach those farthest behind and achieve the ambitious targets set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China’s experience can provide valuable insights to other developing countries, he added.

Poverty is not predestined, nor is it unconquerable. China’s experience in poverty alleviation indicates that with strong will and determination, as well as practical action, one can make steady progress towards overcoming poverty.

China has joined the Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty. It stands ready to continue carrying out and supporting international cooperation in poverty reduction. Together with all parties, China is committed to building a world of common prosperity and free of poverty.

By He Yin, People’s Daily

“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 the endurance, perseverance, and striving spirit that enables water drops to penetrate rocks over time and turns blueprints into reality.”

The remarks were made by Chinese President Xi Jinping in a speech at Session I of the 19th G20 Summit under the title “Building a Just World of Common Development” in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during which he profoundly explained what China’s battle against poverty says to the world, triggering strong responses from the international community.

China’s experience in poverty alleviation has garnered worldwide attention as the country has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, and met the poverty reduction target of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development ahead of schedule.

China’s experience is worth learning from because its story has proved that developing countries can eliminate poverty as well. In today’s world, around 733 million people are facing hunger, and the population suffering from high levels of acute food insecurity has increased for five consecutive years. Many countries are eager to learn from China’s poverty alleviation experience to achieve development and revitalization.

“Bringing benefit to the people is the fundamental principle of governance.” The ancient Chinese saying that Xi quoted on many occasions exactly mirrors the unbreakable commitment of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to bring the people a happy life.

Everything China does, it always places the people front and center, and it solemnly declares that “not a single poor region or person should be left behind.” That’s why the country has been successful in the fight against poverty and has set an example for global poverty reduction.

The CPC has always put people first and is always committed to seeking happiness for people.

In Liangjiahe village, northwest China’s Shaanxi province, Xi, as Party secretary, guided by the belief of “bringing tangible benefits to the people,” led the villagers in digging wells, building terraces and sediment storage dams, and setting up the province’s first methane-generating pit.

In Zhengding county, north China’s Hebei province, he visited over 200 villages riding a bicycle, to explore the path of rural reform and poverty alleviation.

In Ningde, southeast China’s Fujian province, he left his footprints on almost every county and township, seeking ways to “allow a weaker bird to start early and fly high.”

Starting from a Party secretary in Liangjiahe village, Xi worked his way up through almost every level of the Party’s hierarchy. He has always been deeply aware of people’s expectations, keeping the people in mind and constantly thinking about the people. He has made poverty alleviation an important part of his work and a great cause he is determined to accomplish.

President of the Central African Republic Faustin-Archange Touadera, after a visit to Liangjiahe village, said that Xi is deeply rooted in the people, always standing with the people and serving the people. “The Chinese example is a truly edifying one. We appreciate Xi’s leadership very much. We see that he is really a great leader of our time, with a vision for China,” said Touadera.

Only a ruling party that always prioritizes people’s interests can provide strong political and organizational support for poverty alleviation efforts.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress, Xi has presided over seven seminars on poverty elimination, made over 50 fact-finding trips on poverty reduction, and visited every one of the 14 contiguous poor areas across the country.

China’s poverty alleviation achievement is the fruit of the strenuous, unified efforts of the Chinese government and people. In the fight against poverty, China has made targeted policies tailored to each village, each household and each person; facilitated growth by vigorously channeling talent, funds and technologies to underdeveloped regions; helped localities generate growth by fostering industries with distinctive features and upgrading infrastructure, all in light of their own conditions; and promoted common prosperity by pairing up well-off regions with less developed ones. It has succeeded in the most extensive and aggressive anti-poverty campaign in human history, creating a miracle in poverty reduction.

From vowing that “a moderately prosperous society is to be enjoyed by each and every one of us,” to promising that “on the path to modernization, no one, and no country, should be left behind,” China, while striving to improve the well-being of its own people, has also been committed to promoting the world’s common development to ensure a better life for people in all countries.

During his remarks at Session 1 of the 19th G20 Summit, Xi stressed: “A single flower does not make spring. China wants to see a hundred flowers in full blossom and will go hand in hand with fellow developing countries toward modernization.”

He also outlined China’s eight actions for global development, including pursuing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, implementing the Global Development Initiative, and supporting international cooperation on poverty reduction and food security. These actions have charted the course for global development and demonstrated a broad vision for common prosperity of all countries.

Drawing on its rich practical experience, China provides strong support for the development of other developing countries. It is called “a positive force driving global development” by international observers.

With a focus on the common well-being of all humanity, China will always be a doer and go-getter working for the cause of global development. It will continue to follow a people-centered approach and continuously enhance people’s sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security. It is ready to take steps together with all parties to build a just world of common development, leave poverty in the past, and turn the vision into reality.

By Zhou Shanshan, People’s Daily

Jingdezhen, a city known as the world-famous “porcelain capital” in east China’s Jiangxi province, boasts a distinctive charm and artistic ambiance bestowed by its rich traditional ceramic culture.

With over 2,000 years of history in ceramic craftsmanship, the small city has become a window into the openness and inclusiveness of Chinese civilization.

The trading center for the China Jingdezhen International Ceramics Expo is home to nearly 1,000 international ceramic brands, building a global network of ceramics trade. The Taoxichuan Spring & Autumn Art Fair has brought together global artists and artisans for cultural exchanges. The city hosts more than 60,000 “Jingpiaos,” or migrants who came to pursue their dreams, with foreigners always seen in workshops, shops, and schools.

Using ceramics as a bridge, Jingdezhen is welcoming visitors from around the world to foster diverse artistic expressions. It has become a dream city for ceramic artists and a refreshing glimpse into Chinese culture.

At the same time, Jingdezhen is rapidly “going global.” In 2023, Jingdezhen’s official flagship store opened in Dubai, providing a new platform for cultural exchanges and foreign trade for local ceramic companies. Statistics show that since 2013, the average annual growth of Jingdezhen’s ceramic export volume has exceeded 20 percent.

For centuries, Jingdezhen’s ceramic products have traversed rivers and oceans, making their way from China to the world. The city’s global significance is so profound that it was one of the only three Chinese cities noted on the maps of British museums during the 16th century.

Going global – Telling ceramic stories to the world

As China’s only national ceramic culture inheritance and innovation pilot zone, Jingdezhen is continuously sharing its ceramic cultural stories with the world.

It has set up international experience centers for ceramic culture in Italy and many other countries, and developed an interactive map together with over 100 museums and archaeological institutions, which allows users to explore the global ceramic landscape with a simple touch.

Beyond Jingdezhen, the Chinese ceramic culture as a whole is revealing its charm through exchanges with different civilizations.

For example, the “Blanc de Chine — Dehua Porcelain” international exhibition is expected to host cultural exchange activities in more than 20 countries and regions in five years. The crack ice pattern typically found on Longquan celadon ceramics created an important design for the medals of the Beijing Winter Olympics, captivating athletes from around the world.

Ceramics provides a fascinating perspective into the global charm of Chinese culture. In recent years, from traditional festivals to artistic performances and intangible cultural heritage, fine traditional Chinese culture has continuously transcended borders, capturing the affection of people worldwide and strengthening people-to-people bonds through cultural exchanges.

A civilization can flourish only through exchanges and mutual learning with other civilizations.

Throughout its long history, Jingdezhen has consistently embraced new ideas, experimented with new techniques, and explored new aesthetic expressions.

For instance, the Persian Samarra-blue dazzlingly adorned Jingdezhen’s porcelain ware, creating the legendary narrative of blue-and-white ceramics. Many vases have absorbed the design characteristics from other parts of the world, as represented by Meiping vases, moon-shaped vases and double-handled flat vases.

The “Eight Friends of Zhushan,” a group of Jingdezhen artisens widely noted for their innovations in porcelain painting, took propelling famille rose porcelain to a new height by integrating Chinese and Western painting techniques.

The openness and inclusiveness have become the crucial secret for Jingdezhen to sustaining its kiln fires for a millennium.

Bringing in – Writing captivating stories of opening up      

At the Taoxichuan International Studio, an American ceramic artist, who has lived in Jingdezhen for many years, was operating his 3D printer. He has ingeniously integrated painting techniques and cultural elements he had learned in countries like South Korea and Japan into his ceramic designs.

In recent years, Jingdezhen has taken a range of measures to foster a vibrant artistic environment for global ceramics enthusiasts.

It has put forth the Migratory Bird Program to attract international artists for residencies, and extended its entrepreneurial incubation chains to support business startups at different development stages. It has also set up service centers to provide comprehensive support for those who come here to pursue their ceramics dreams.

These efforts have opened new horizons for the ceramic industry, created unprecedented possibilities and enriched the creativity of the city’s ceramic culture.

By Li Zheng, People’s Daily

At the 2024 World Internet Conference Wuzhen Summit held in the ancient water town of Wuzhen, east China’s Zhejiang province, a series of cutting-edge technologies captivated visitors – such as a headset that allowed people to see virtual products in real-world scenarios, and a robotic hand that could dexterously move its “fingers” and even make a “thumbs-up” gesture.

These technologies highlight the latest achievements of China’s technological innovation. In recent years, China has made historic progress and transformations in cyber affairs and information technology. It has truly become a global internet powerhouse.

“From zero to one” and “from one to infinity,” the internet has reshaped how nations are governed, how goods are produced, and the way people work and live. The virtual cyberspace has brought many tangible and positive changes, demonstrating China’s determined efforts to strengthen its internet development.

In the past, cab-hailing could be quite annoying for many, but today, online ride-hailing services have become part of Chinese people’s daily life; long queues at train station ticket counters were always seen during holidays, while the advent of smartphones now allows people to book tickets, select seats, and even order meals online with just a few taps. These visible changes highlight how the internet has profoundly empowered economic and social development.

The internet has permeated every aspect of society. It has injected remarkable vitality into the Chinese economy and society, making the country a pioneer and leader in the global digital economy.

For instance, e-commerce and e-government services have transformed consumption patterns and streamlined administrative procedures. Social media platforms like Weibo, WeChat, and short-video apps have changed how people communicate. These transformations are accompanied by the rapid development of emerging technologies such as big data, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence (AI), as well as digital cultural products like web series, online literature, and digital animations.

The internet is characterized by exceptional adaptability and penetrability. The notion of “internet plus” is invigorating countless industries and bolstering the real economy.

According to a recent report by the International Federation of Robotics, China has made significant strides in manufacturing automation, surpassing Germany and Japan to claim third place in global industrial robot density rankings in 2023. The deep convergence of the industrial internet and intelligent robotics is giving rise to a new era of smart industrialization.

For example, smart factories are driving a shift from “made in China” to “intelligently made in China.” Unmanned terminals and intelligent ports have enabled remote handling of goods, and robotic dogs and drones have become the new “porters” at tourist destinations.

The deep integration of the digital and real economies is transforming traditional industries at every level and across the entire value chain, which is amplifying, multiplying, and accelerating economic growth to continuously foster new quality productive forces.

Breaking through key technologies

China’s internet development demonstrates its persistent efforts to break through key technologies.

Recently, a research team at Tsinghua University developed the “Taichi-II” optical training chip, marking a leapfrog progress in the chip industry. China has made successive breakthroughs in mobile communication technologies, from having no presence in 1G, to catching up in 2G, making breakthroughs in 3G, running parallel with other countries in 4G, and leading the world in 5G, which demonstrates its relentless drive for innovation.

In recent years, with the rapid advancement of software and integrated circuit technology, China has seen broader application of its independently developed operating systems. The country has also achieved breakthroughs in pioneering sectors such as quantum communication and quantum computing, while making significant progress in critical foundational technologies, including high-end chips, core components, and basic software, gaining a global competitive edge in certain areas. It also maintains a leading position in both the quantity and quality of AI research papers across the globe.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of China achieving full functional access to the internet. Over the past three decades, the internet has become an integral part of Chinese society.

From web portals to instant messaging, from desktop platforms to mobile devices, and from search engines to the internet of things, the internet has broken physical boundaries, opened up opportunities for ordinary people, expanded the possibilities for innovation and creativity, and provided boundless potential for innovative development.

A wealth of vibrant ideas fueled by the ingenuity of the Chinese people have transformed into dynamic bytes, creating a brilliant constellation of China’s internet achievements.