On July 8, 2021, China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center was officially launched in Chongqing. Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao, Chongqing Vice Mayor Cai Yunge, Supervision Officer of National Administration for Rural Revitalization Li Yue, and ambassadors of South Asian countries such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh to China attended and addressed the ceremony.

Wu Jianghao said in his remarks, General Secretary Xi Jinping solemnly declared at a Ceremony Marking the Centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that China has brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China. This is not only a great achievement scored by the CPC and the Chinese people, but also an important part for humanity to get rid of poverty. The establishment of China-South Asian Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center is an important initiative proposed by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on behalf of the Chinese government at the Conference of Foreign Ministers of China, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka on COVID-19 this April, which was well received by the South Asian countries. The Center aims to pool strength, integrate resources, and exchange wisdom to support and help the South Asian countries' economic development and livelihood improvement, jointly promoting the cause of poverty reduction.

Cai Yunge said in his remarks, Chongqing has firmly implemented the important guidelines of General Secretary Xi Jinping on poverty alleviation and development. Chongqing's work in poverty relief is a vivid epitome of the national battle against poverty, and a reflection of the miracle China has created in poverty reduction. Chongqing is willing to share poverty relief experience and practices with South Asian countries, and establish cooperation on poverty eradication demonstration projects, contributing to building the Center into a new platform and a new brand for friendly cooperation between China and South Asia.

Afghan Ambassador to China Javid Ahmad Qaem, Bangladeshi Ambassador to China Mahbub Uz Zaman, Nepalese Ambassador to China Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin-ul-Haque, and Ambassador of Sri Lanka to China Palitha Kohona successively made remarks. They express warm congratulations on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, applaud China's extraordinary achievements in all fields, especially in poverty alleviation, under the strong leadership of the CPC, and speak highly of the leading role of China in cooperation of the six countries. Ambassadors said, poverty alleviation and development are an important task and a prominent challenge of the South Asian countries, so the Center initiated by China is set up at a most opportune time. They stand ready to work with China to build the Center, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning, promote regional peace and prosperity, and improve the well-being of the people in the region.

At the ceremony, participants watched the documentary Xi Leads Fight Against Poverty. Assistant Foreign Minister Wu Jianghao and Deputy Mayor Cai Yunge presented General Secretary Xi Jinping's English edition of Up and Out of Poverty. After the ceremony, Chinese and foreign guests visited Liuyin Town, Beibei District of Chongqing and inspected demonstration sites of poverty alleviation and rural revitalization.