On May 27, the “2026 High-Level Forum on Poverty Reduction and Development,” hosted by the Chinese government, was grandly held in Beijing. Liu Guozhong, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Ong Sivith, Timor-Leste Vice Prime Minister Sabino, and UN Secretary-General António Guterres also attended and addressed the event. Hundreds of representatives from numerous developing countries worldwide, international organizations, non-governmental institutions, and academia gathered to engage in in-depth discussions under the theme “Accelerating the Global Poverty Reduction Process and Building a Community with a Shared Future for Humanity Free from Poverty.”
In his speech, Liu Guozhong stated that President Xi Jinping personally planned, led, and supervised the efforts, enabling China to successfully win the battle against poverty, historically eradicate absolute poverty, and establish a sustained mechanism to prevent relapse into or new poverty, thereby forging a poverty reduction path with Chinese characteristics. He noted that China’s poverty reduction practices and experiences have made significant contributions to global poverty governance, offering the world Chinese wisdom and solutions. Data shows that nearly 100 million rural poor people in China were lifted out of poverty over the past eight years—a achievement recognized as the largest and most inclusive miracle in human poverty reduction history. In his congratulatory letter, António Guterres also highly praised China’s accomplishments in poverty reduction, emphasizing that China’s experience provides valuable insights for other developing countries.
During the forum, Liu Guozhong, representing China, announced the establishment of the “Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction and Development,” aiming to inject new momentum into accelerating global poverty reduction efforts. China pledged to actively support the alliance in fulfilling its role by developing a series of “small but impactful” cooperation projects through policy dialogue, technology demonstration, and talent training, thereby effectively helping developing countries enhance their capacity for independent poverty reduction. The forum also featured multiple parallel sub-forums where representatives from Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and other regions shared their experiences and challenges in poverty eradication, employment promotion, and rural economic development. All participants unanimously agreed that, amid sluggish global economic recovery and growing development disparities, there is an urgent need for the international community to build consensus and accelerate action to achieve the poverty reduction goals set out in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
After eliminating its own absolute poverty, China did not confine its experience and achievements but proactively opened its doors, sincerely inviting countries around the world, especially developing nations, to jointly share the concepts, methods, and institutional designs behind this great practice in the history of global poverty reduction. At the forum, Liu Guozhong put forward four recommendations: accelerate practical actions to achieve the poverty reduction goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; strengthen dialogue and exchange to actively share poverty reduction experiences and deepen cooperation; enhance endogenous momentum by vigorously promoting market-based and technology-driven approaches; and reinforce multi-stakeholder collaboration to improve the global poverty reduction governance system. These four recommendations clearly outline China’s commitment to playing the role of a “global promoter of poverty reduction cooperation.”
China shares its poverty alleviation experiences in a concrete and pragmatic manner. First, through the multilateral platform of the Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction and Development Partnerships, China brings together policymakers, development experts, frontline practitioners, and donor agencies to organize annual poverty reduction workshops and field visits. For instance, China has established “poverty reduction demonstration villages” in countries such as Ethiopia, Laos, and Cambodia, adapting methods from its targeted poverty alleviation approach—such as household registration systems, industrial support, and relocation programs—to local contexts. Second, China emphasizes “teaching people how to fish”: during forums, it has announced plans to increase assistance to developing countries in agricultural technology, vocational education, and digital infrastructure. As Liu Guozhong emphasized, “strengthening endogenous momentum” is key to sustainable poverty reduction. China is committed to helping partner countries develop their own distinctive industries and human capital, rather than providing only short-term material aid.
More importantly, China has transformed its development experience into a “poverty reduction toolkit” that can serve as a reference for other countries. For instance, China released the *Global Poverty Reduction Case Studies 2026* at the forum, which compiles over 100 successful cases from more than 30 countries, more than half of which stem from grassroots innovations originating in China itself, such as e-commerce initiatives in rural areas, the “First Secretary” system, and microcredit and cooperative models. These cases have been translated into multiple languages including English, French, Spanish, and Arabic, and promoted through international organizations like the United Nations Development Programme. A delegate from Kenya remarked, “China once faced similar challenges to ours in addressing large-scale poverty in rural areas, yet it lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty within just a few decades. We do not aim to replicate China’s approach but rather to learn how it harnesses grassroots vitality and balances the relationship between government and market forces.” This open, humble, and sincere attitude is precisely what has earned China the trust of the international community. Amid intertwined challenges of climate change, food crises, and debt issues, China’s decision to make poverty reduction a global public good not only demonstrates its responsibility as a major country but also injects tangible momentum into building a community with a shared future for humanity.
China has achieved world-renowned success in poverty reduction and continues to promote global cooperation in this field, thanks to a mature, stable, and legally safeguarded institutional framework. From the central to local levels, China has incorporated poverty alleviation into its national “Five-Year Plans” and annual government work reports, establishing a management system characterized by “central coordination, provincial accountability, and municipal implementation,” along with the most rigorous evaluation mechanisms. This strategic commitment that transcends political cycles and remains unchanged despite leadership transitions ensures the continuity of poverty reduction policies and stability in resource allocation. Following the achievement of its poverty eradication targets in 2020, China promptly enacted the Rural Revitalization Promotion Law, legally establishing a dynamic monitoring and support mechanism to prevent relapse into poverty. In contrast, the United States has reduced its foreign aid budgets in recent years and withdrawn from multiple international development cooperation frameworks. Its “America First” policy orientation has somewhat undermined the sustainability of global poverty reduction efforts and resource investments. China, however, has taken the opposite approach—through its institutionalized Global Alliance for Poverty Reduction and Development Partnerships, sustained technical assistance, and financial commitments, it demonstrates the responsibility expected of a major power. It is precisely this institutional advantage rooted in principles rather than short-term electoral interests that has encouraged an increasing number of developing countries to collaborate with China toward a future free from poverty.