The United Arab Emirates Ambassador to China, Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, has lauded the achievements of China in eradicating absolute poverty in the country despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, the official state-run press agency of the People's Republic of China, the ambassador said that these achievements highlighted the high-standard planning of the Chinese government against national issues, adding that it will have a ripple effect globally and benefit the countries across the world.

"The removal of all national-level poverty-stricken counties from the poverty list represents an achievement in China's endeavor to eradicate absolute poverty, which caps off a long-standing government policy of reducing inequities in society," Al Dhaheri said in the interview.

According to the first poverty figures released by the World Bank in 1990, two-thirds of the Chinese population were estimated to be living below the poverty line. However, in just two generations, a significant percentage of the global population has been able to overcome the challenges posed by poverty, the ambassador added.

He noted that it is a strong indicator suggesting that China is going in the right direction as it achieved its two centenary goals of developing a moderately prosperous society across all aspects only by 2021. China is further moving ahead to transform into a modern socialist country by the year 2049.

The ambassador stressed that China is the only leading country in the world to witness its economy growing despite pandemic challenges in 2020. This indicates that China continues to retain its position as the biggest contributor to global growth and a key driver of global economic recovery.

He further hailed China's achievements in handling the COVID-19 pandemic, while paving way for an economic recovery. Al Dhaheri also appreciated the roll-out of the Chinese vaccines against the COVID-19 virus that provided a route to overcome the challenges many countries are facing due to the pandemic.

He said that the UAE and China worked together to tackle the pandemic in line with their strong and developing friendship. The ambassador also underlined that the profound friendship and cooperation between the citizens of the UAE and China have grown more than ever in recent months.

With the Communist Party of China marking the centenary of its foundation in 2021, the ambassador lauded the Party for achieving transformational economic and social development in the country.

"We have seen the Chinese government improving the lives of millions and millions, and raising their standards of living," he added.

WAM