It’s great to see President Xi’s commitment to eliminate extreme poverty here in China by 2020. China did a great job of lifting millions out of poverty. But progress has been uneven. Forty-three million people still live in extreme poverty.
Our foundation looks forward to a new partnership with China that will focus on innovative ideas to bring this number down to zero – working on nutrition, healthcare in rural areas, and also finding ways to increase financial services for the poor.
Of course, China isn’t not only striving to reach new heights here at home. It’s using its own experience fighting poverty and disease to help other countries tackle similar challenges. When I was in Beijing a few years ago, Vice Premier Wang Yang said something that stayed with me. He said: “Africa today is our yesterday.” Now, China is using the lessons it’s learned to usher in a new tomorrow for Africa, too.
This is a pretty incredible time to be a young person in China. Your generation’s entrance into the workforce will coincide with your country’s rise as a center of global progress and innovation. The world’s eyes are on China. . .and as a new generation comes of age, the world’s eyes are specifically on all of you.
So, I want to spend the rest of my comments focusing on four areas where I think there are exciting opportunities to use your education, your passion, and opportunities to unlock more amazing progress – for both China and for the world. Specifically, health, agriculture, energy, and technology.
First, health. When my wife and I started the Gates foundation 17 years ago, we asked ourselves: how can we use our financial resources to make the biggest impact? It didn’t take long to realize that improving health deserved to be at the top of the list.
When people aren’t healthy, they can’t learn in school or be productive at work. They’re unable to seize economic opportunities or do any of the things they need to lift themselves out of poverty.
Melinda and I saw the example of China creating a better life for its people, and it inspired us to see if there was a way to support China’s progress. Over the last decade, our work here has focused on several of the most persistent domestic health challenges – specifically reducing the incidence of tuberculosis and tobacco-related diseases, preventing HIV transmission, and improving treatment and care for people living with AIDS.
We are continuing to support progress in these areas, but our work in China is also evolving along with China’s new priorities. For example, China has a great opportunity to be a global leader in health innovation.