Speakers at a discussion meeting Monday expressed the opinion that Bangladesh has so many things to learn from China for poverty reduction and development as both the countries have many familiar experiences.
"China's poverty rate was 84 per cent in 1981 which is now below 10 per cent…it is an amazing experience Bangladesh should learn from," one of them said while speaking at the meeting on 'South-South Dialogue on Poverty Reduction'.
They also identified some reasons for China's amazing development including decentralised development programmes, accountability of political bureaucratic leaders, craving for better life and coordination of market economy and socialist economy etc.
ActionAid Bangladesh organised the programme on the occasion of its 30th anniversary in Dhaka University Nabab Nawab Ali Chowdhury Senate Bhaban.
Professor of College of Humanities and Development Studies of China Agricultural University ZUO Ting presented a paper on 'China's Experiences in Rural Development & Poverty Reduction' while Professor of College of Humanities and Development Studies of the same university Wang Libin presented a paper on 'Gender Mainstreaming in Poverty Reduction Programs in China - South and South Dialogue'.
The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam and Chairman of Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies Chairman Munshi Fayez Ahmed spoke at the event. ActionAid Bangladesh Country Director Farah Kabir moderated the discussion.
Mahfuz Anam said not only China, there are also many other countries in the world whose experiences can be learnt, but the question is whether we want to learn from them or not.
He said Chinese political leaders and bureaucrats were accountable and responsible to their duty and commitment to people of China which brought them such amazing development.
He found the biggest difference between China and Bangladesh to be lack of accountability and responsibility in the path of development and poverty alleviation.
Munshi Fayez Ahmed identified main reason of the success of China as people's craving for development.
He said China attracted huge foreign investment and technology and experience from other countries.
He said Bangladesh and China have many similarities but Bangladesh should design its own development plan.
Farah Kabir said political leaders and policymakers should learn from local experienced people how to attain development on their own.
"It is more important than learning from other countries," she added.
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