A representative from Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner (second from left), North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, attends the international seminar on global poverty reduction partnerships held at Fiera di Roma Exhibition Center, Rome, capital of Italy, on May 15 (local time). [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A representative from Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region shared their poverty alleviation and environmental restoration experiences at an international seminar on global poverty reduction partnerships held in Fiera di Roma Exhibition Center, Rome, capital of Italy, on May 15 (local time).

In recent years, Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner, located in the hinterland of Horqin Sandy Land, has been making green development a priority and promoting poverty alleviation through environmental development.

He Zhiwei, mayor of Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner, shared his experiences at the seminars. He said that by improving the natural environment, developing the forest fruit and ecotourism industries, and encouraging locals to respect the environment, among other things, the banner was not only able to protect its vegetation, but also to help farmers and herdsmen change their management and production techniques, protect grasslands, and realize sustainable development.

The banner has helped poor households increase their income by 104 million yuan ($15.12 million) and has increased the per capita income of poor residents by 738 yuan per year. Its model of using environmental preservation as a means of reducing poverty was selected as a global model for poverty alleviation.

He Zhiwei, mayor of Horqin Left Wing Rear Banner, shares his poverty alleviation experiences at the seminar. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]