A farmer displays newly-harvested pumpkins in Xujiaba Township, Sinan County of southwest China's Guizhou Province, Aug. 12, 2020. Guizhou, which used to be a provincial-level region with the biggest population of poor people, has lifted more than 9 million people out of poverty since 2012. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)
China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Tuesday showcased his country's achievements in poverty reduction and shared experience with UN member states and agencies.
Zero poverty is a long-held dream of humankind. That is why the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has made "No Poverty" its top goal, said Zhang at a virtual briefing.
"As the largest developing country in the world, China has been working hard to eradicate poverty. In the past eight years, China has placed even greater importance on poverty eradication," said the envoy, recalling that on Feb. 25, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China has scored a "complete victory" in its fight against poverty.
This victory has advanced China's economic and social development and opened up broad prospects for achieving sustainable development; has improved human rights in China; has found a viable path to achieve development and prosperity for developing countries; and has made an important contribution to global development and boosted the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, he said.
This victory has not come easily, it benefited from the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, a people-centered approach, whole-of-society mobilization, and a targeted strategy, said Zhang.
China will enter a new development stage, said the envoy.
"China will work with all parties to deepen international cooperation in poverty reduction and South-South cooperation. We will continue to give strong support to the work of the United Nations and the secretary-general, give full play to the China-UN Peace and Development Fund, vigorously promote global poverty reduction and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda, accelerate a better recovery from COVID-19, and actively tackle the challenges of climate change," he said.
"China, as a force for peace, a force for development, a force for progress, and a force for justice, will continue to make even greater contribution to maintaining world peace, promoting common development and upholding fairness and justice."
Some 200 diplomats, UN officials and media representatives, including about 60 ambassadors, attended the briefing.