National lawmakers hail SZ's assistance to rural areas

National lawmakers from cities where Shenzhen has implemented “pairing assistance” programs spoke highly of the city’s efforts in promoting rural revitalization and balanced regional development in advancing agricultural and rural modernization, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

Since 2012 when the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC) convened, Shenzhen has offered over 46.5 billion yuan (US$6.66 billion) for “pairing assistance” programs and carried out 51,000 assistance projects.

Through the “pairing assistance” programs, Shenzhen has helped lift 2.04 million people out of poverty. At present, Shenzhen’s “pairing assistance” programs cover 103 counties (districts or cities) in nine provinces.

“Shenzhen utilized multiple measures to help our village get rid of poverty and resolve our difficulties. In addition, Shenzhen implemented measures to help villagers gain stable income,” said Luo Chao-yang, Party branch secretary of Xinli Village of Naman Township, Baise’s Tianyang District in Guangxi.

An aerial view of the rural landscape of Bama in Guangxi. Bama is one of the regions that Shenzhen is supporting under the “pairing assistance” programs. He Long

Shenzhen also promoted the sales of agricultural products from Tianyang such as mangoes and tomatoes. Since 2021, agricultural products sold from Tianyang to Guangdong posted a value of 394 million yuan.

Zheng Haitao, a national lawmaker and mayor of the city of Shanwei in Guangdong Province, said that Shenzhen provided financial assistance of over 10 billion yuan to Shanwei and initiated 178 projects, including the construction of the Shenshan Medical Center.

With Shenzhen’s support, Shanwei has ushered in rapid development, with an average economic growth rate of 6.2% from 2020 to 2022, ranking first in Guangdong Province. In 2022, the per capita disposable income of Shanwei residents increased by 5.8%, Zheng said.

“From poverty alleviation to revitalization, Heyuan’s development is inseparable from Shenzhen’s all-round support,” said national lawmaker Liu Liping, adding that Shenzhen helped introduce suitable industries to enable villagers to find a job in their hometowns and attract some locals to return to their hometowns to start businesses.