As the world observes the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty (also known as UN Poverty Day), established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1992, attention is once again turning to how nations can work together to build a future free from poverty.

Among global efforts, China's experience stands out: once one of the world's poorest countries, China has transformed its development trajectory over the past several decades, offering new inspiration for global poverty reduction.

Now home to a 1.4 billion people, China once struggled with widespread poverty in the early years after its founding. Yet through consistent, targeted, and people-centered policies, the country declared in 2021 that it had eliminated absolute poverty nationwide, achieving this milestone ten years ahead of the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development target.

According to the World Bank, by the international poverty line of $1.90 per person per day, China lifted about 800 million people out of poverty between 1980 and 2020 – accounting for around 75 percent of global poverty reduction during that period. The World Bank's president noted that China's success helped lower the global poverty rate from 44 percent to 9 percent, making it the largest contributor to global poverty alleviation in recent decades.

A people-centered path to development

Behind China's success lies a distinctive development approach that places people's well-being and social equality at the heart of Chinese modernization. Rather than relying solely on economic growth, China combined targeted poverty relief, infrastructure investment and social mobilization to ensure no region or group was left behind.

In remote or disaster-prone areas, the government implemented large-scale relocation programs, moving residents from inhospitable environments to newly built communities equipped with housing, schools, hospitals and elderly care facilities. In regions with greater potential, local industries such as specialty agriculture, rural tourism, and e-commerce were developed to create jobs and stimulate the local economy.

Education has also been a central pillar in breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty. Through initiatives such as recruiting rural teachers and providing financial aid to underprivileged students, more than 200,000 school-age children from poor families have been able to return to and complete compulsory education.

Meanwhile, national initiatives such as east–west paired assistance, where the wealthier eastern regions provide assistance to underdeveloped western regions, and the "10,000 Enterprises Helping 10,000 Villages" campaign have brought new energy to grassroots development. By mid-2020, some 109,500 enterprises had partnered with 127,100 villages, injecting investment and expanding training and employment opportunities in once-impoverished regions.

China's poverty alleviation success has not only transformed domestic life but also offered valuable experience to other developing nations seeking sustainable growth. In a 2021 congratulatory letter, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed China's achievements as "a source of hope and inspiration for the entire international community," emphasizing that strong political commitment and policy consistency are key to improving the lives of the poorest and most vulnerable.

China's global contributions to poverty reduction

Today, China is translating its domestic lessons into global cooperation. Across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, Chinese initiatives are helping partner countries build capacity, strengthen infrastructure and unlock development potential.

Through the Global Development Initiative (GDI), China has made knowledge-sharing a cornerstone of its international engagement. Over the past 70 years, it has trained more than 400,000 professionals from over 180 countries and regions through human resource development and technical cooperation programs in areas such as poverty reduction, rural revitalization, and small enterprise growth.

China's agricultural and technological innovations have also taken root around the world. Hybrid rice developed by Chinese scientists is now cultivated in nearly 70 countries, helping African nations boost yields from 2 tons to 7.5 tons per hectare. The Juncao technology – using grass to grow mushrooms – has spread to more than 100 countries, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs and raising incomes for farmers in places like Rwanda.

Infrastructure cooperation forms another pillar of China's contribution. Projects such as Madagascar's "Egg Road," the China-Maldives Friendship Bridge, and the China-Laos Railway have enhanced connectivity, improved livelihoods, and created new economic opportunities. These projects not only deliver tangible benefits but also symbolize China's approach – helping developing nations build the foundations for self-sustaining growth.

China has also mobilized global resources to deepen international cooperation. Under the GDI framework, the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund was expanded to $4 billion in 2023, with an additional $14 billion raised through partnerships with financial institutions to support development projects. Working with the UN Development Programme and more than 20 international organizations, China has implemented over 150 projects in 60 countries, benefiting more than 30 million people.

As the global community faces widening development gaps and mounting challenges, China's experience demonstrates that through strong and stable policies, local empowerment and sustained investment, eradicating poverty is not just an aspiration but an achievable goal.