PM Rabuka says there is much to learn from poverty alleviation programs in China

Fiji has much to learn from the tailor-made innovative poverty alleviation strategies from China to enhance community livelihoods.

While visiting the Ningde Poverty Alleviation and Development Exhibition Hall in Ningde City, Fujian Province, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka said simple survival strategies has also contributed to China’s present rapid development and growth.

Ningde is a significant testing ground of China’s President Xi Jinping’s poverty alleviation strategies improving living standard of villages there.

President Xi started these poverty alleviation initiatives when he was the General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party about 30 years ago.

As President, he has made poverty alleviation a cornerstone of his leadership, emphasising the need to improve the lives of all Chinese citizens and take them out of extreme poverty.

Prime Minister Rabuka observed the displays of history at the exhibition hall through texts, photos, videos, models and architecture that illustrated targeted poverty alleviation efforts made by the people of Ningde over the past three decades, under the guidance of President Xi.

PM Rabuka was informed that Ningde’s story of poverty eradication is the epitome of China’s poverty alleviation efforts.

He commended the people for Ningde’s resilience and perseverance which has borne fruit to this day.

Fiji is committed to addressing poverty through specific initiatives under the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection, including poverty benefits and social pension schemes, care and protection and food voucher programs, to name a few.

It is also strengthening the agriculture sector to encourage the people of Fiji to utilise available land for food security and improved livelihoods.

Agriculture is a key limb of Fiji’s poverty eradication efforts by providing sustainable livelihoods, food security, employment, and opportunities for economic growth.