Delegates from 27 countries recently toured Gansu province in China to observe the region’s efforts in poverty alleviation and rural revitalization, drawing international recognition for the measures taken to transform one of the nation’s historically poorest areas.

Organized by the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the visit included a stop in Bulenggu village, located in Dongxiang county within the Linxia Hui autonomous prefecture. There, foreign political party representatives and think tank experts witnessed the local impact of China’s targeted poverty alleviation strategies combined with industrial development initiatives.

At a briefing held at the Party School of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee in Lanzhou, Nie Dianzong, vice-president of the school, described China’s approach as a blend of practical technologies, institutional innovation, and a development philosophy focused on preventing individuals and households from falling back into poverty. He pointed to Gansu’s use of a digital monitoring platform integrating data from multiple government agencies, which enables the identification of at-risk households and provides targeted assistance within 48 hours.

Nie emphasized the relevance of China’s poverty eradication experience to developing countries, particularly those in the Global South, suggesting that such exchanges deepen mutual understanding and foster shared learning.

The visiting delegates largely affirmed this perspective. Aklesso Atcholi, executive secretary of the Union for the Republic of Togo and leader of the delegation, remarked that China’s success in eliminating absolute poverty offers “Chinese wisdom and Chinese solutions” to global poverty reduction efforts. He expressed a desire for his country to strengthen ties with China and learn from its experiences in both poverty alleviation and grassroots governance.

Liam Isaac Ellis, a central committee member of the Communist Party of Australia, described China’s model as exemplary due to its empowerment of individuals to overcome poverty independently, rather than relying solely on external financial aid. He praised the country’s unwavering commitment to poverty reduction without resorting to compromises or half measures.

Wazim Dill Mohammed, an alderman of the Couva-Tabaquite-Talparo Regional Corporation in Trinidad and Tobago, expressed astonishment at the transformation witnessed in Gansu. He noted the stark contrast between past conditions, characterized by dirt and mud roads, and the region’s current development.

Hu Changsheng, secretary of the CPC Gansu Provincial Committee, reflected that Gansu was once a key battleground in China’s nationwide poverty alleviation campaign. He highlighted the province’s targeted interventions, strengthened support systems, and coordinated efforts across various levels of government as instrumental factors in eliminating absolute poverty. Gansu now focuses on consolidating these achievements through rural revitalization and pursuing high-quality development.