China’s eradication of poverty brings hope

People chat as they walk past the Central Business District in Beijing, Sunday, Nov. 15,2020. China and 14 other countries agreed Sunday to set up the world's largest trading bloc, encompassing nearly a third of all economic activity, in a deal many in Asia are hoping will help hasten a recovery from the shocks of the pandemic. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

WASHINGTON: China’s eradication of absolute poverty is a “great historic accomplishment, ” bringing hope and providing lessons to poor countries in the world, said renowned economist and bestselling author Jeffrey Sachs.

“This is wonderful news. It’s a great historic accomplishment. China has done more to reduce extreme poverty in a short period of time than any other country in history, ” Sachs, director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, told Xinhua in a recent video interview.