SCO striving for poverty alleviation

From Ritu Raj Subedi,Yangling (China), May 30: Forum on Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) kicked off in Yangling Demonstration Zone of Shannxi Province in China on Monday.

With the theme of ‘Exchanges, mutual learning and win-win cooperation – promoting poverty reduction and sustainable rural development in SCO countries,’ the two-day Forum is set to share the successful poverty reduction experiences and rural development practices of countries, further deepen exchanges and cooperation, expand development achievements and jointly contribute for the cause of global poverty alleviation.

Nepal is a dialogue partner of SCO that was established as an intergovernmental organization in Shanghai in 2001. 

It has currently eight member states, including China, India, Russia, Pakistan, and Kazakhstan, four observer states and six dialogue partners.

Addressing the inaugural session, SCO secretary general Zhang Ming said that SCO had been promoting people-centred development concept and in-depth cooperation among the SCO member states to improve the living standards of the people in their respective countries.

Stating that poverty reduction has been a crucial agenda of SCO, Zhang noted that China wanted to share its cooperation and support to other nations in reducing poverty.

Manoj Bhatta, general secretary of Social Welfare Council of Nepal, said that Nepal had adopted inclusive development approach with a focus on building rural infrastructure to enhance the livelihood of people. “We have rolled up several measures and strategies to eradicate extreme poverty.” 

Representatives from SCO member states, including China, Myanmar, Pakistan and Uzbekistan put forth their views at the Forum that also witnessed the signing of several agreements on project implementation.

The Forum features three sessions on the topics of ‘Poverty Reduction and Sustainable Development in the New Era,’ ‘Technological Assistance in Rural Revitalization’ and ‘Social Assistance in Rural Sustainable Development’.

The Forum was jointly organised by several organisations, including the Good-Neighbourlliness, Friendship and Cooperation Commission of the SCO.

While addressing the 22nd Council Meeting of Heads of State of SCO in September 2022, Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed holding a forum on poverty reduction and sustainable development in China in 2023.

More than 40 media persons from 21 nations, including Nepal, China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Russia and Kyrgyzstan attended the event for the coverage of news.

Yangling that has been considered to have pioneered the Chinese farming civilization is its first National Agricultural High-tech Industry Demonstration Zone and only agricultural freed trade zone.

It has established cooperation with more than 60 countries and regions in the world and trained more than 3,000 agriculture officials and technicians from 110 countries and regions.