On 28 June 2022, the 16th ASEAN-China Forum on Social Development and Poverty Reduction was held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The forum was co-hosted by the National Rural Revitalization Administration of China and the Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and was organised by the International Poverty Reduction Center in China and the Rural Revitalization Administration of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The forum was supported by the ASEAN Secretariat, the United Nations Development Programme, and the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges.

The forum was carried out both online and offline under the theme of “Strengthening exchanges on poverty reduction and jointly building a prosperous homeland”. Delegates of ministries responsible for poverty reduction from ASEAN Member States (AMS) and China, diplomats from the embassies and consulates of AMS in China, as well as representatives of international organisations and non-governmental organisations, experts, scholars, students from AMS in China, business people and media attended the forum. ACC representatives attended the forum and relevant events upon invitation.

At the opening session of the forum, Mr. Liu Huanxin, Administrator of National Rural Revitalization Administration of China, Mr. Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, Mr. Lan Tianli, Governor of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Dr. Ouk Rabun, Minister of Rural Development of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Mr. Deng Xijun, Ambassador of China to ASEAN, U Hla Moe, Union Minister of Cooperatives and Rural Development of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Mr. Thongphath Vongmany, Vice-Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Atty. Noel K. Felongco, Secretary and Lead Convenor of National Anti-poverty Commission of the Republic of the Philippines, delivered speeches. The speakers spoke highly of the achievements of ASEAN-China cooperation on social development and poverty reduction, and agreed that the ASEAN-China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has pointed out a new direction for the development of ASEAN-China relations. They hoped that this forum may provide an opportunity for all related sides to strengthen interaction, mutual learning and cooperation, in order to further promote progress in ASEAN-China social development and poverty reduction, and jointly build an even closer ASEAN-China community with a shared future. In the plenary sessions, about 20 representatives from the government authorities, universities, think tanks, enterprises of AMS and China, the embassies and consulates of AMS in China and international organisations conducted in-depth interaction and discussions under the themes of “Strengthening ASEAN-China Cooperation on Poverty Reduction and Social Development” and “Urban-Rural Integration in the Post-Pandemic Era”.

The forum lasted for four days, during which a series of events were held, including the ASEAN-China Village Leaders Exchange Programme, Digital Village Workshop, and field visits on Guangxi’s poverty reduction achievements, intelligent agriculture and rural governance.