Indonesia seeks to learn from China on poverty alleviation

Deputy Minister of Villages and Disadvantaged Regions Ahmad Riza Patria said the Indonesian government aims to learn from China’s poverty alleviation programmes.

‘The key aspects to study are not just the programmes themselves, but also the procedures, systematic approaches, problem-solving techniques, anticipation strategies, and management practices. China’s efforts have significantly contributed to other nations’ learning, and Indonesia is working to close the gap to become a major country in the future,’ Riza Patria stated.

He made the remarks during the first meeting of the Global Partnership for Poverty Alleviation and Development (GPPAD), an initiative by the Chinese government.

In the forum, Indonesia serves as co-chair alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil, Pakistan, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, with China leading the committee represented by Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Zhang Lu.

‘Indonesia is a large country where poverty rates have slightly decreased but remain high at over 10 per cent. We must quickly address these complex poverty issues,’ Riza explained.

President Prabowo Subianto’s initiatives focus on rural areas, including Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), Red and White Fishing Villages, Red and White Village and Urban Cooperatives (KDKMP), and Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes).

‘Additionally, there are measures to increase rice and corn prices for farmers, lower fertiliser costs, free health checks, and other programmes targeting rural and impoverished communities. These initiatives will stimulate economic activity in rural areas, ultimately boosting productivity and improving villagers’ welfare,’ Riza added.

‘Each year, we send village heads to China. Last year, 25 attended; this year, 27, with numbers set to grow. China also sends representatives to Indonesia for knowledge sharing, discussions, and evaluations. China has achieved much, and Indonesia will catch up and progress similarly,’ he said.

Official data shows China lifted 800 million people out of poverty between 1970 and 2021. From 2013 to 2020 alone, the Chinese government reported 98.99 million rural residents escaping extreme poverty, averaging over 10 million annually.

China achieved the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development poverty reduction targets a decade ahead of schedule.

In February 2021, China officially declared a ‘complete victory’ in eradicating extreme poverty, removing 832 counties and approximately 128,000 villages from poverty lists.

The GPPAD, initiated by China with 53 countries and nine international organisations, aims to promote exchange of poverty alleviation experiences and governance practices, while jointly exploring ways to tackle poverty at its roots.

The partnership welcomes participation from governments, international organisations, the private sector, academia, and media to foster a fair, inclusive, and non-discriminatory development environment in poverty alleviation efforts.