RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - Indonesia is looking to draw lessons from China’s widely recognized achievements in poverty reduction, particularly in rural development and problem-solving strategies.

Indonesian Deputy Minister for Villages and Disadvantaged Regions Ahmad Riza Patria emphasized that the focus is not only on replicating programs but also on understanding the systems, procedures, and management approaches that have proven effective in China.

“What matters is learning the procedures, systematic approaches, techniques for solving problems, and anticipating challenges. China’s experience has made a major contribution globally, and Indonesia will continue to pursue progress so it can grow into a great nation,” Riza said in Beijing on Wednesday, May 27, as quoted by Antara.

He made the remarks during the inaugural meeting of the Global Partnership for Poverty Alleviation and Development (GPPAD), an initiative led by China. Indonesia serves as a vice-chair alongside Côte d’Ivoire, Brazil, Pakistan, South Africa, and Uzbekistan, while China chairs the forum through its Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Zhang Lu.

Riza acknowledged that Indonesia’s poverty rate has declined but remains above 10 percent. He stressed the need for faster solutions to address the complex challenges of poverty.

He also pointed to President Prabowo Subianto’s rural-focused programs--such as Free Nutritious Meals (MBG), Red-and-White Fishermen’s Villages, Red-and-White Village Cooperatives (KDKMP), and Village-Owned Enterprises (BUMDes)--as key initiatives to stimulate rural economies and improve welfare.

“These programs--raising grain and corn prices, lowering fertilizer costs, providing free health checks--are all directed at rural communities and the poor. With these efforts, the rural economy will circulate, and productivity will rise, ultimately improving village welfare,” Riza explained.

Indonesia and China have already established cooperation in rural programs, including exchanges where Indonesian village heads study in China.

“Every year we send village heads to China--25 last year, 27 this year--and the numbers will grow. They also come to Indonesia to share experiences. China has succeeded in many areas, and Indonesia will continue to catch up,” Riza said.

China’s record is striking: between 1970 and 2021, the country lifted 800 million people out of poverty. From 2013 to 2020 alone, nearly 99 million rural residents escaped extreme poverty, averaging more than 10 million people per year.

China achieved the UN’s 2030 poverty reduction target a decade ahead of schedule, and in February 2021 declared “complete victory” in eradicating extreme poverty, removing 832 counties and 128,000 villages from its poverty list.

The GPPAD forum, involving 53 countries and nine international organizations, aims to promote the exchange of experiences in poverty alleviation and governance. It encourages collaboration among governments, international bodies, the private sector, academia, and media to foster an inclusive, fair, and non-discriminatory environment for tackling poverty at its roots. ***