DFID China hosts international seminar series

27 October 2008

30 years of development success - what lessons for the next 30 years?

This autumn, a series of events hosted by DFID will be asking the crucial question: what can the rest of the world learn from 30 years of development progress in China? The seminars are an opportunity to discuss the poverty reduction seen in China and other East Asian countries over the last three decades. Some of the world's premier development institutes and think-tanks will be participating in the meetings, each of which focuses on one particular theme, with speakers or panels discussing the implications for international theory and practice.

Most of global poverty reduction over the last 30 years has happened in East Asia, primarily in China. Here, during a period of phenomenal economic growth, 600 million people have been lifted out of poverty. Inevitably this record has become an object of admiration around the world.

However, many people have wondered how such progress could occur so rapidly. The Chinese Government has committed itself to sharing the lessons of this success with the international development community.

Now - the 30th anniversary of the commencement of China's anti-poverty reforms, in the desperately poor Anhui Province - is an ideal moment to celebrate the achievements that have been made, at the same time as considering the importance of these achievements for global poverty reduction.

While an enormous amount of research on China exists, both inside and outside the country, it has been only partly reflected in the debates of the international development community. This autumn's seminars will seek to promote an international exchange of ideas about the wider relevance of China's successes.

It is increasingly important, in today's world, to learn from Chinese development. Not only because China's progress is seen as a model by many other countries (influencing, for example, reforms in Vietnam), but because its support for global development is expanding at a rapid pace. And, as this happens, the country is continuing its own efforts to improve the well-being of its population.

Read more about the events in the schedule below. As much as possible, presentations will be made available through pod-cast or video/audio. Outcomes of each event will be made available immediately. Papers will be published in an edited volume.