On the morning of September 24, the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) held a press conference on Asia Poverty Reduction Report and Belt & Road Green Development Case Study Report in Beijing.

This is the first time for BFA to publish research reports on broad development topics. Through a systematic review of the current situation of poverty reduction across whole Asia, BFA Asia Poverty Reduction Report overcomes the limitations of previous sub-regional-level studies, and makes an overall analysis from multiple angles including the status and challenges of poverty and the achievements and experience in poverty reduction. It also offers suggestions on international cooperation in relevant fields. Based on a selection of successful cases from more than ten countries, BFA Belt & Road Green Development Case Study Report celebrates the Belt & Road green development experiences covering six major areas, i.e. pollution treatment, management and conservation of ecosystem, green energy, green production, green lifestyle and green finance. This report is jointly released by BFA and the BRI International Green Development Coalition.

As the host country of BFA, China has scored impressive achievements in poverty reduction and green development in recent years. China is moving towards the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects by 2020 and becoming the first developing country to announce the elimination of absolute poverty. China’s experiences in poverty reduction and green development practices, eg: blue sky campaign, are important components of these two reports.

BFA Vice Chairman Zhou Xiaochuan and Secretary-General Li Baodong, together with leaders from the partners of the reports including Sun Qixin, President of China Agricultural University (CAU), and Zhao Yingmin, Convener of the Advisory Committee of the BRI International Green Development Coalition, addressed the conference. Li Xiaoyun, the professor of CAU and the lead expert of the reports, and Zhang Jieqing, Deputy Secretary-General of the BRI International Green Development Coalition, introduced the key points of the two reports respectively. Moreover, Zhou Xiaochuan and Li Baodong answered questions from the journalists.

Zhou Xiaochuan in his speech discussed the founding purpose of BFA. BFA is to become the high-end dialogue platform between political and business communities and to pool Asian wisdom and positive energy for the common development of the world. The two reports are developed around poverty reduction and green development, two of the hotspot issues in global development, representing BFA’s exploration on broad development issues. Poverty reduction and green development would be impossible without institutional and policy support as well as integrated measures in a wide range of areas from green finance to technological innovation.

Li Baodong said that these two reports are testament to the new efforts of BFA in its long-term commitment to promoting the sustainable economic and social development of Asia and the world. The 74th session of the UN General Assembly opening in New York a few days ago focused on the Sustainable Development Goals including poverty reduction and climate action. The two reports of BFA are in line with the international call for action in this regard and are expected to facilitate relevant discussions.

The press conference was also attended by chief representatives from the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation, diplomatic envoys, representatives of international organizations such as UNDP and FAO together with journalists from China and abroad.