Remarks by Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania Chen Mingjian at the Presentation of 'Up and Out of Poverty' Swahili Version & Symposium on Poverty Alleviation Theory

Your Honorable Wilson Mukama, Former Secretary-General of CCM,
Dear Mr. Walter Bgoya, Former Managing Director of Mkuki na Nyota Publishers,
Dear Dr. Rozalia Grayson Rwegasira, Assistant Administrative Secretary in Economic and Productive Sector of the Morogoro Regional Commissioner's Office, and Representative of the China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation Project,
Dear Mr. Manzi Rwegasira, Chief Executive Officer of Stanbic Bank,
Dear scholars, officials, 
Ladies and gentlemen, 
Habari za mchana!

Today, I'm greatly honored to have you all here for the Presentation of "Up and Out of Poverty" Swahili Version (Kupambana na Kuondokana na Umaskini) & Symposium on Poverty Alleviation Theory. The world today is undergoing both transformation and upheaval; changes unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace. The implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development significantly lags behind expectation, the development gap between the Global North and the Global South is wide, and the cause of global poverty reduction still faces many challenges. Against this backdrop, discussing poverty alleviation is not only about sharing experiences of poverty reduction between China and Tanzania, but also about working together to explore ways to advance global sustainable development. 

The book "Up and Out of Poverty" authored by Chinese President Xi Jinping is a collection of 29 speeches and research reports President Xi wrote when he served as the Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Ningde Prefectural Committee in Fujian Province from September 1988 to May 1990. Focusing on how the eastern region of Fujian could open up and develop, alleviate poverty and become prosperous, President Xi raised a series of systems, concepts, viewpoints and methods based on local conditions at that time, such as "Poverty alleviation through increasing people's confidence and helping them acquire knowledge and skills" and "Constant dripping water can drill through the rock." These important strategic thoughts, transcending time and space and crossing national borders, demonstrate strong vitality and great appeal.

The book "Up and Out of Poverty" highlights the ideas and practices of the CPC in leading the people to explore the path of poverty alleviation. It embodies the rich philosophy of people-centered development, and reflects President Xi's firm ideals and convictions as well as his deep commitment to the people in leading poverty-stricken areas out of poverty.

Since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, President Xi has prioritized poverty alleviation in exercising leadership of the state and adopted creative and unique measures to wage a battle against poverty that is unprecedented in history for its scale, intensity, and the number of people affected. China has embarked on a path of poverty reduction with Chinese characteristics and formed a unique anti-poverty theory. 

In 2021, China solemnly declared that all of the 98.99 million rural residents that fell below the current poverty line had been lifted out of poverty, achieving a complete victory in the fight against poverty. China achieved the poverty reduction goals of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development a full decade ahead of schedule, greatly accelerating the process of international poverty reduction.

China's poverty alleviation efforts have been firmly grounded in its national conditions, with a profound understanding of the uniqueness of poverty in China and the logic of poverty governance. Everything China does, it always places the people front and center. China promises that "not a single poor region or person should be left behind." To tackle poverty, we make targeted policies tailored to each village, each household and each person; we facilitate growth by vigorously channeling talent, funds and technologies to underdeveloped regions; we help promote local growth by fostering industries with distinctive features and upgrading infrastructure, all in light of respective conditions; and we promote common prosperity by pairing up well-off regions with less developed ones.

The valuable experience that China has gained in the practice and exploration of poverty reduction belongs to both the country and the world. It has expanded humanity's approaches to poverty eradication and opened up new pathways for global poverty reduction. The one we would like to share most with is Tanzania.

The Swahili version of the book "Up and Out of Poverty" jointly launched by China and "Mkuki na Nyota" Publishers has been released in Tanzania. We hope this book will serve as a bridge of thought, sharing China's explorations and insights in the course of poverty eradication with Tanzania and other African countries, and providing useful experience for advancing the global cause of poverty reduction.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Eradicating poverty is a common goal of all countries and an urgent task widely recognized by the Global South. President Xi has stressed that "Developing countries can eliminate poverty, and 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. If China can make it, other developing countries can make it too. This is what China's battle against poverty says to the world.

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. At the crossroads of history, President Xi has put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, calling for open, innovative and inclusive development that benefits all. Development is meaningful only when it is inclusive and sustainable. Long-term global development cannot be based on one group of countries becoming increasingly prosperous while another group of countries remain chronically poor and backward.

To address the development deficit, President Xi has proposed the Global Development Initiative (GDI). It puts poverty alleviation at the top priority. This fully responds to the international community's concerns, and provides a realistic path for countries to coexist harmoniously and seek common development.

It is increasingly clear that we live in a community of shared future. China has always provided assistance to other developing countries to the best of its capacity, and contributed to global poverty reduction cause through concrete actions, with China-Tanzania cooperation as a particularly notable example. China has actively aligned with Tanzania's National Development Vision, focusing on enhancing Tanzania's growth capacity, and carried out practical cooperation in various fields including industry, agriculture, infrastructure, and health.

China has granted zero-tariff treatment to 100 percent of taxable products from Tanzania and other 52 African countries having diplomatic ties with China, thereby facilitating the export of Tanzania's high-quality agricultural products such as honey, avocados, and wild aquatic products to China, and providing strong support for the agricultural modernization of Tanzania.

China Agricultural University (CAU), in cooperation with the Morogoro Regional government, has launched "Small Technology, Big Harvest" project and also the maize and soybean inter-planting project called "Small Bean and Big Nutrition", which has improved land and labor productivity and effectively enhanced the nutritional status of local people.

Chinese enterprises have been deeply involved in Tanzania's strategic projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) and the Julius Nyerere Hydropower Station, helping Tanzania accelerate its industrialization process.

Each story of cooperation demonstrates that China is a true partner of Tanzania in eradicating poverty and pursuing prosperity. For China, getting rid of extreme poverty is not the end, but the starting point of a new endeavor. A single flower does not make spring. China expects hundreds of millions of flowers in full blossom and will work hand in hand with Tanzania and other developing countries toward modernization, and build a community with a shared future for humanity.

Today, the Presentation of "Up and Out of Poverty" Swahili Version & Symposium on Poverty Alleviation Theory aims at promoting exchanges and mutual learning, pooling wisdom and strength, joining hands to meet challenges, and seeking common development through cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

This year holds great significance in the history of China-Tanzania relations. It marks the 50th anniversary of the completion of the TAZARA Railway, as well as the 60th anniversary of President Julius Nyerere's visit to China, the signing of "Treaty of Friendship between the People's Republic of China and the United Republic of Tanzania", and Premier Zhou Enlai's visit to Tanzania. 

At this new historical juncture, China is ready to take steps together with Tanzania to build a just world of common development, leave poverty behind, and turn our brighter vision into reality.

Asanteni sana!