Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reaffirmed China's serious commitment to reduce poverty in his speech at the opening ceremony of the Global Conference on Scaling Up Poverty Reduction in Shanghai Wednesday.

Wen said that with continued actions in poverty reduction and consistent pursuit of peace, development and prosperity, China will contribute its share in maintaining world peace and promoting common development.

He pointed out that eliminating poverty in a country of 1.3 billion people is in itself a major contribution to the global cause of poverty reduction.

The Chinese government always cherishes friendship, honors responsibility and keeps good faith, he said. China will do its utmost to promote South-South cooperation, gradually increase its development assistance to poor countries within its own capability and expand its trade and investment with other developing countries.

The Chinese government is ready to offer selfless help to international poverty reduction efforts, Premier Wen said.

He said China has decided to pledge another 30 million US dollars to the Asian Development Fund of the Asia Development Bank (ADB), in addition to a 50 million US dollar donation to the African Development Fund.

He also announced that the Chinese government will contribute an extra donation of 20 million US dollars to ADB to set up a China Special Fund for Poverty Reduction and Regional Cooperation, in support of relevant endeavors in the Asia-Pacific region.

China will try to help a small portion of population who still live in poverty have access to adequate food and clothing at an early date in the next ten years, said the Chinese Premier.

Wen said the first 20 years of this century is a key period for China's endeavor to build a well-off society in an all round way. China will adhere to the people-oriented principle and achieve comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development.

China will further improve the basic living and production conditions in poor areas so as to secure the achievements it has scored in poverty reduction, he said.

China will also enhance the life quality and overall capability of the poor population, step up infrastructure in poor villages, improve the eco-system, and gradually bring the poor areas out of economic, social and cultural backwardness, thus creating favorable conditions for the people's well-off life, the premier said.

(People's Daily May 26, 2004)