Mr.Nick Beresford 

UNDP Cambodia Office Country Director 

Q: As one of the most underdeveloped countries in the world, Cambodia has been struggling long against poverty. Since the reform and opening up, China has also come a long way in this cause, by lifting more than 700 million people out of poverty. In your opinion, what kinds of cooperation could be promoted between the two countries?

A: 1. Trade

Cambodia needs to engage in more trade between China and other ASEAN Countries. Open trade has a strong and positive impact on poverty. Both countries have a good history of cooperation

2. Sharing experiences

This should be both wise, each country can share innovation from the other.

For instance through the social protection program,  China can assist in post domestic product and poverty alleviation and can tailor their approach to the village level to identify, analyze and assist those trapped in poverty at the village level to move out of poverty.

Q: China and Cambodia have shared many similarities in national conditions and development path. But what are the biggest differences between the two countries in terms of the strategy adopted by UNDP in reducing poverty?

A: Unlike China, Cambodia has a lot of people living people living below extreme poverty line of about 13%. Large scale poverty alleviation policy is necessary. Poverty alleviation in Cambodia may be harder to reach because the residual pockets are harder to reach for example ethnicity, geographical location or people living with disabilities, therefore more targeted and effective policy solutions could be useful in Cambodia. China could offer these useful policy lessons to Cambodia

Q: Based on what you have learned from the panel, do you have any comment on our portal and the database? And what role do you think can Information and Communication Technology (ICT) play in sharing information on poverty reduction?

A: Sharing more with each other about lessons learnt and being open with other about successes and failures is valuable. But not rather doing exactly replicating what is being done in one country but rather sharing the central ideas in the correct context.

Such forums aids boost share academic ideas and compacting them in an online public access portal for anyone to download academic papers, easier to read summaries or watch videos so as to communicate the policies.

Sustainable development goal is everybody’s business rather than government business. It encompasses private sector, community, civil society groups and we should all have an open approach in ending poverty.