Interview: Cambodia can learn from China's poverty reduction efforts -- expert

In the government work report delivered by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Tuesday at the opening of the second session of the 13th National People's Congress, China's top legislature, Beijing pledges to reduce its rural poor population by over 10 million in 2019, accelerate investment in infrastructure development and attract more foreign investment.

Joseph Matthews, a senior professor at the Beltei International University in Phnom Penh, said China's poverty reduction is a great success.

"China's target to lift another 10 million people out of poverty this year is an absolutely commendable effort made by the Chinese government," he said.

"I think that China's poverty alleviation model should be emulated by developing countries like Cambodia," he added. "It is a pragmatic and effective model which starts from grassroots level and right from remote and rural areas in China."

In the work report, China sets its gross domestic product (GDP) growth target at 6-6.5 percent for 2019.

"China's projection of 6-6.5 percent GDP growth this year, in my personal opinion, is very realistic and achievable," he said.

As protectionism and unilateralism have in recent years hurt the global economy, said the expert, many major economies such as Britain, Germany, Canada, Japan and even India now feel the crunch.

Against such a backdrop, China's renewed pledge to further opening-up will "boost the morale and confidence of foreign investors in the Chinese government," he added.

Speaking of China's investment in infrastructure projects, he said China understands the importance of infrastructure and strongly believes that without durable connectivity, the country's development seems to be impossible.

China's infrastructure investment is "a conspicuous proof showing that China has strongly committed to improving the lives of common people," Matthews said.

"Developed and modern infrastructure is indispensable for the country's development," he added.