China’s achievements in uplifting marginalised communities serve as a valuable model developing countries, Kgothatso Brucely Shai, a South African professor from the University of Limpopo, SAAPAM, said in an interview with ChinAfrica during the 2025 International Forum on Poverty Governance and Global Development held on 29 March in Lushui City, Nujiang Lisu Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province. Shai commended the Chinese government’s persistent efforts to combat poverty, calling them a fundamental way to protect human dignity.

“Poverty around the world is essentially an attack on the dignity and integrity of human beings. Comparatively speaking, looking at the work done in uplifting marginalised communities out of poverty, one appreciates the significant achievements China has made. The results are evident. I cannot think of any other country that has done so much to drastically alleviate poverty,” he noted.

Talking about his home country, South Africa, Shai said a significant portion of the South African population lives below the poverty line, a reality corroborated by his own research. The root causes of this persistent poverty, he said, include a lack of effective policy interventions, inadequate expertise, and insufficient monitoring and evaluation of existing policies.

Shai pointed out that scholars attribute the high poverty rate to various factors, including the mismatch between higher education and labour market demands, corruption, poor governance, and systemic inequalities. He emphasised that addressing these complex issues requires a comprehensive approach that acknowledges the multifaceted nature of poverty.

The scholar proposed several strategic directions for poverty alleviation in South Africa and the broader African continent. He advocated for prioritising agricultural production to enhance food security and rural livelihoods. Additionally, he called for the reconstruction of African value chains to bolster economic resilience and reduce dependency on external markets.

Shai also emphasised the importance of amplifying African development perspectives and creating a discourse rooted in local contexts to counter externally imposed narratives. He underscored the need for strengthening policy frameworks, combating corruption, and improving the alignment between education and employment opportunities as critical steps towards addressing systemic inequalities and historical legacies of racial segregation that perpetuate poverty.

Shai believes that poverty reduction is a collective responsibility that extends beyond government action. He urged individuals and communities to contribute to the eradication of poverty. By working together to address poverty, he argued, societies can create a more just and equitable world for all.

The forum brought together approximately 300 diplomats, policymakers, and development experts from 34 countries and international organisations to discuss topics surrounding the theme, “Together Promote Rural Revitalisation and Common Development." The forum was co-hosted by the Yunnan provincial government, China Public Relations Association, and China International Communications Group.