On July 31^st, the third day of the African Ambassador’s trip to Yan’an, an international seminar on “Yan’an Spirit and Poverty Elimination in China”, sponsored by China-Africa Institute and co-organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of Shaanxi Provincial Government, was held in Yan’an. This seminar included the opening ceremony, keynote speech and two sessions about “Yan’an Spirit and Poverty Elimination” and “Contributions of China's Poverty Elimination to the World”.

Mr. Wang Linggui, Vice President of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and President of China-Africa Institute, Mr. Martin Mpana, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Cameroon to China, Mr. Guo Jun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee and Deputy Director of China-Africa Friendship Group of the CPPCC, Mr. Rahamtalla M.Osman Elnor, Permanent Representative of the African Union to China and Mr. Zhao Gang, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Shaanxi Provincial Committee and Secretary of Yan’an Municipal Committee, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony respectively. Mr. Li Xinfeng, Executive President of China-Africa Institute, presided over the opening ceremony.

Mr. Wang Linggui

In his speech, Wang Linggui said that it is of special historical significance to hold this seminar in Yan’an at this moment, because 2021 is an important year, which marks the centennial of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the achievement of the first centennial goal and the realization of absolute poverty elimination for China. At present, China is advancing towards the second centennial goal of building a strong socialist country in an all-round way. Over the past hundred years, the CPC has carried forward the great spirit of party building and Yan’an spirit has become a significant component of the CPC's spiritual pedigree.

Wang Linggui emphasized that great cause breeds great spirit, and great spirit leads great cause. In the passed years, it was in the great struggle that has created brilliant achievements and has forged Yan’an spirit. The latter is the soul of the rejuvenation and endeavor of the Chinese nation. Yan’an spirit is the crystallization of Chinese revolutionary spirit, the powerful weapon of the CPC to defeat the enemy, and the strong power to realize the socialist modernization with Chinese characteristics. The connotation of Yan’an spirit includes the following points: Strengthening the correct political direction, emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, serving the people wholeheartedly, and keeping the entrepreneurial spirit of self-reliance and hard work. Yan’an spirit embodies the spirit of rejuvenating and forging ahead for the Chinese nation, and becomes the Party’s precious spiritual wealth. Under the new historical conditions, carrying forward Yan’an spirit can provide driving force for the new journey towards socialist modern country in an all-round way.

Wang Linggui said that since the founding of the People's Republic of China, inspired by revolutionary spirits such as Yan’an Spirit, the CPC led the people of the whole country to fight against poverty. Since the 18th National Congress, the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core has taken poverty alleviation as the bottom line task and landmark indicator of building a well-off society in an all-round way. The overall regional poverty has been solved, absolute poverty has been eliminated, and remarkable achievements have been made. Yan’an is the epitome of China's poverty alleviation. Guided by the ideological line of emancipating the mind and seeking truth from facts, Yan’an bid farewell to absolute poverty in May 2019. It also provides a "Chinese sample" for the world to eliminate poverty through the green development.

Finally, Wang Linggui pointed out that China’s valuable experience in poverty reduction practice belongs to both China and the world. China is willing to further strengthen poverty reduction exchanges and cooperation with African countries, and work together to promote the international poverty reduction process, so as to jointly build a poverty-free Community of Shared Future for Mankind.

Mr. Martin Mpana

Mr. Martin Mpana said in his speech that after this journey with other African Ambassadors in the past two days, he had a deeper understanding of Yan’an's history and achievements of today. At present, there are still hundreds of millions of people living below the absolute poverty line in Africa, and getting rid of poverty is a topic of great concern to African leaders. China has made great achievements in poverty alleviation, which attracts worldwide attention. It is a “Chinese miracle” worth exploring its mystery. China’s victory in getting rid of poverty has not only made outstanding achievements for the whole human society, but also set an example for the whole African continent. He believes that the China-Africa Institute has well practiced its roles in promoting people-to-people exchanges, strengthening understanding and mutual trust between China and Africa, and enhancing friendship between Chinese and African people, and has made positive contributions to China-Africa cooperation.

 Mr. Guo Jun

Guo Jun said that Yan’an is known as China’s revolutionary holy land. In Yan’an, Mao Zedong once wrote a series of articles such as On Practice, On Contradiction, On Protracted War and Serving the People, which became the crystallization of the Marxism-sinicization in China. It is here that the “Yan’an Spirit” has been cultivated. Since the 18th National Congress, the Party has put poverty alleviation in the prominent position, emphasized common prosperity, and made a series of major decision-making arrangements to mobilize the strength of the whole Party and the whole country to implement poverty alleviation. Guo Jun emphasized that there is no fixed model for tackling poverty in China, only by scientific planning, adapting measures to local conditions and making precise policies. African countries should also explore their development path based on their own reality when exploring poverty reduction.

Mr. Rahmtalla M. Osman Elnor

Mr. Rahamtalla Osman said that China has made great achievements in poverty reduction, becoming the first developing country to achieve the poverty reduction goal set by the United Nations for Sustainable Development. China has set an example and provided a model for African countries to carry out poverty reduction. He pointed out that unemployment, underemployment, unbalanced development and inadequate social security are the main causes of poverty in Africa at present, and the Covid-19 has aggravated the challenges faced by Africa. The AU has always been committed to finding solutions to poverty. At the same time, Africa has also accelerated the construction of the AfCFTA in order to improve its economic and social conditions through integrated development. In 2010, the AU established the Development Agency to deal with the challenge of poverty. Osman indicated that since the establishment of the FOCAC, China-Africa cooperation has made positive contributions to promoting sustainable development and improving people’s livelihood in Africa, with fruitful results, and there will be much room for cooperation in the future. He hoped that the next FOCAC would provide more cooperation impetus for the cooperation between China and Africa.

Mr. Zhao Gang

Zhao Gang said that in 2020, 205,200 poor people in Yan’an have all been lifted out of poverty, and Yan’an Municipal Committee has been awarded the National Advanced Collective for Poverty Alleviation by the CPC Central Committee and the State Council. Yan’an poverty alleviation is a microcosm of poverty alleviation in the whole country. In concrete practice, Yan’an has promoted industrial development through ecological protection, and found a way out of poverty alleviation in line with Yan’an reality. Since 2021, Yan’an has made an effective connection between consolidating and expanding the achievements of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, and continuously improved the living standards of the poverty-stricken population. Zhao Gang expressed his hope to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with China-Africa Institute to invite African friends to come to Yan’an and to let them better understand the development and changes of Yan’an and China in the new era.

Mr. Li Xinfeng

When presiding over the seminar of the opening ceremony, Mr. Li Xinfeng emphasized that Yan’an is not only a revolutionary base of China, but also a witness of the great changes in China. Yan’an spirit led the Chinese people to win the great victory in War of Resistance against Japan and to gain independence and liberation. Yan’an spirit also inspired many African leaders to visit Yan’an, where they learned from the experience of Chinese revolution. After the founding of New China, Yan’an spirit continued to lead China towards the development of common prosperity. 2021 is an important year which marks the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, the achievement of comprehensive elimination of poverty in China and the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa. Thus It is of great significance to hold this seminar around the topic of Yan’an spirit and poverty alleviation.

Seminar Venue

Keynote Speech Session

Mr.Rahamtalla M. Osman Elnor, Permanent Representative of the African Union to China, presided over the keynote speech session.

Professor Li Hao, Changjiang scholar by Ministry of Education and Director of the Chinese Culture Research Center of Northwest University, introduced the embodiment of traditional culture in Yan’an.

Mr. Teshome Toga Chanaka, Ambassador of Ethiopia to China, said that the achievement of poverty alleviation in China is one of the greatest projects of all mankind, and this achievement has benefited from the strong political will of Chinese leaders and the united struggle of all sectors of society. The cooperation between China and Ethiopia has provided a lot of help for Ethiopia's economic development, including infrastructure investment, technology transfer, human resources development and many other fields.  

Professor Wang Qilong, Changjiang Scholar by Ministry of Education and Vice President of Xi’an International Studies University, believes that China's poverty alleviation has made a great contribution to the world and provided China’s experience for other developing countries, and demonstrated China’s responsibility for the world.

Mr. Abdellahi EI Vilaly, Ambassador of Mauritania to China, emphasized that China’s practice of getting rid of poverty can be used for reference for African countries. It is very important for African countries to be self-reliant and independent and to rely on the strength of their own people to achieve success and development.

Professor Ren Xiaowei, Vice President of Shaanxi Normal University, gave a speech focusing on three aspects: the historical position of Yan’an, how to understand Yan 'an spirit as an extended spiritual form of the Party spirit, and how to carry forward Yan’an spirit in poverty alleviation.

Mr. Wong Yen Cheong, Ambassador of Mauritius to China, introduced a series of measures taken by Mauritius in recent years to reduce poverty, which improved income inequality and reduced the impact of the epidemic on the national economy.

Professor Gong Yun, Vice President of Marxism Research Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, discussed Xi Jinping’s anti-poverty thoughts from seven aspects, which are: insisting on common prosperity as the goal, taking the Party as the leading body, taking vast rural areas as the focus of poverty alleviation, seeking truth from facts, mobilizing endogenous strength, advocating collectivism spirit, and taking human progress as the mission of the Party.

Session 1: Yan’an Spirit and Poverty Elimination

Mr. Martin Chedondo, Ambassador of Zimbabwe to China, presided over the first session.

Speakers included the following:

. Mr. Wu Guobao, Director of the Center for Poverty Studies and reserch fellow of the Rural Development Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences

. Mr. Adama Compaore, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to China

. Mr. Zhang Yongpeng, researche fellow of China-Africa Institute

. Mr. Monday Semaya K. Kumba Mundai, Ambassador of South Sudan

. Prof. Du Min, professor of Shaanxi Normal University

. Mr. Gou Haodong, Honorary researche fellow of China-Africa Institute

. Mr. Tiando Damien, international student from Benin in China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)

. Mr.Wang Nan, Honorary researche fellow of China-Africa Institute

The speeches covered the following topics: the specific practical experience of poverty alleviation in China and its reference value for African countries, China-Africa poverty reduction cooperation, poverty alleviation through mandarin learning, China-Africa cooperation and friendship, and youth leadership training in China-Africa cooperation.

Mr. Wen Xian, Honorary Research Fellow of China-Africa Institute and Professor Yuan Xiaolu, Director of Center for African Studies and President of School of Translation Studies of Xi’an Fanyi University made a comment separately.

Session 2: Contributions of China’s Poverty Elimination to the World

Mr. Tang Xujun, Director and research fellow of the Institute of Journalism and Communication of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, presided over the second session.

Speakers included the following:

. Mr. Antonio Serifo Embalo, Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to China

. Prof. Han Lujia, member of China-Africa Friendship Group of National Committee of Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and professor of China Agricultural University

. Mr. Guo Chongli, Honorary research fellow of China-Africa Institute

. Mr. Mamodson Zafiniaina Aodre, international student from Madagascar in China University of Geosciences (Wuhan)

. Prof. An Chunying, Deputy Executive Editor-in-Chief of West Asia and Africa and Research fellow of China-Africa Institute

. Mr. Wang Chaowen, Honorary researche fellow of China-Africa Institute

. Ms. Dieng Awa Martine, international student from Senegal in Chang’an University

. Prof. Lu Mi, Professor of Shanghai Normal University.

. Prof. Xu Lin, Associate Professor Xu Lin from Northwest University

The speeches covered the following topics: China-Africa agricultural cooperation projects, poverty alleviation in Yan’an and its contributions, Yan’an spirit in the eyes of African students in China, poverty alleviation practice in Lichuan City of Hubei Province, significance of poverty alleviation practice in China, wealth and poverty paradox of Bessie Head from China's perspective, and revisiting international discourse on poverty alleviation in China.

Mr. Zhou Yuxiao, Chinese Ambassador for FOCAC Affairs and Honorary Research Fellow of China-Africa Institute, and Mr. Ding Gang, Senior Editor of People's Daily, made comments.

Prof. Chai Yu

Prof. Chai Yu, Director and research fellow of the Institute of Latin American Studies of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, made a concluding speech.

Chai Yu said, this seminar made us realize that correct ideological guidance and strategic policies in line with national conditions are the basic guarantee for getting rid of poverty. Emancipating the mind, seeking truth from facts, serving the people wholeheartedly and hard work are indispensable elements for getting rid of poverty. At present, the world situation is becoming more complicated. COVID-19 epidemic and protectionism are increasing the difficulty for economic recovery, poverty reduction and development. Developing countries, represented by China and Africa, should further enhance political mutual trust, strengthen mutual learning and understanding to promote resumption of work and production and sincere cooperation under the framework of BRI, and to demonstrate the strong vitality and exemplary role of solidarity and cooperation among developing countries.

Group photo

Other Chinese guests included : Mrs. Yao Hongjuan, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shaanxi Province, Mr. Gao Jinxiao, Deputy Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Shaanxi Province, Mr. Zhang Guanzi, President of the Information Institute of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Mr. Liao Fan, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Bureau of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, and Mrs. Wang Xiaoming, Vice President of the China-Africa Institute.

More than 20 African representatives attended the seminar, including the Permanent Representative of the African Union Representative Office in China, the ambassadors of Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Mauritius, Namibia, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Zimbabwe and other African diplomats in China and African students.

A total of more than 100 Chinese experts, scholars, journalists and volunteers attended the seminar. They came from China-Africa Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, China Agricultural University, Xi’an International Studies University, Shanghai Normal University, Shaanxi Normal University, Northwest University, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), Northwest A&F University, Xi’an Fanyi University, National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Shaanxi Foreign Affairs Office and People's Daily.