Macau to help Guizhou combat poverty

Liu Yongfu (left) met with Chui Sai On

The MSAR government has announced that it will join the central government’s
poverty-combating projects, which will begin by focusing on the province of Guizhou, specifically Congjiang.

On Saturday, influential figures, including government officials, gathered at the East Asian Games Dome to attend a briefing led by Liu Yongfu, a mainland Chinese official in charge of the nationwide poverty-relief programs.

As cited in a TDM report, the gathering followed the announcement that the MSAR government will join forces with the central government to lift people in
Guizhou out of poverty.

The meeting discussed how the central government would seek to eradicate the issue of poverty in rural areas by 2020.

The main effort will be “to bring some enterprises to Guizhou to see what resources and financial opportunities it provides and, in the meantime, the mainland will roll out supporting policies in return to increase efficiency and mutual benefits,” Liu said.

The Chief Executive is set to start a  visit to the southwestern province tomorrow to learn about its current situation and explore opportunities for cooperation.
Chui will lead a delegation to the southwestern province with Zheng Xiaosong, head of Beijing’s liaison office in Macau, and will meet with their Guizhou counterparts, attend talks and go on trips to inspect the province.

Both sides are expected to reach several agreements, covering poverty reduction, education, medical services and talent nurturing.

Further details about the program and its costs remain unknown.