Celebrating 70 Years of China's Achievements in Poverty Eradication Seminar held at SDPI Islamabad
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A seminar titled “Celebrating 70 years of China's achievements in poverty eradication” was organized by Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on 17 October 2019 to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. This year China is celebrating its 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
On behalf of ECO Science Foundation, its President Dr. Manzoor Hussain Soomro participated in the Seminar.
The Chief Guest of this event was H.E. Mr. Yao Jing, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China in Pakistan. In his speech the Ambassador said that China’s much-touted transformation did not come overnight nor was it created in isolation. It is the part of an overall comprehensive development strategy and comprehensive development strategy of China is not confined to growth rate only, but it is meant to include education, health, environmental protection, social security and high-quality development, The Ambassador added
H.E. Mr. Jing went on to say that the multi-billion dollar China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is entering its second phase where both countries are now focusing on industrial cooperation, agricultural cooperation, and socio-economic development.
He shared that under social cooperation, they are focusing on six areas including health, education, water, agriculture, poverty eradication and human resource development.
Parliamentary Secretary for Planning Development and Reform Ms. Kanwal Shauzab in her talk said that China not only miraculously lifted a substantial chunk of its population out of poverty but also became a hub of technology and innovation in the world because it educated its people with advanced technical skills and science education. “There is a dire need to educate and equip our young generation with modern technical skills as per the demand of changing development paradigm,” she added. Pakistan also needs a paradigm shift in the education system to help fight poverty, she stressed.
SDPI Executive Director Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri in his remarks said that we all need to work together to empower our children, their families and communities to help reduce poverty.
Zalmi Foundation Executive Director Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, Dr. Mushtaq Gill a water management expert and Mr. Zamir Awan former Science Councilor of Pakistan in Beijing also spoke and shared their experiences in and with China and appreciated China’s inclusive decisions made by engaging local communities and youth by making them part of development strategies on its way to eradicating poverty.
During the Q&A session, President ECOSF Dr. Manzoor Soomro spoke about the success of China in motivation of youth and promotion of innovation whereby emphasis has been on inquiry based science education (IBSE) approach. He also shared that China Association of Science and Technology (CAST) is partner of ECO Science Foundation for innovation and maker camps as well as IBSE for children and youth under the framework of “Belt and Road International Science Education Coordinating Committee (BRISECC)”; of which Dr. Soomro is an elected Vice President.
After the seminar, a cake cutting ceremony was arranged; wherein, the Ambassador of People’s Republic of China in Pakistan (center) H.E. Mr. Yao Jing, along with other dignitaries cut the cake.
