The Regional Launching Workshop for Project “Poverty Reduction for Ethnic Minorities in China ” was held in Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia on July 26—27, 2007. Mr. Wang Yue, Director-General of CICETE attended the meeting and addressed the opening ceremony.

The economic development of China in the minority area, Wang Yue pointed out in the opening address, plays an important and positive role not only in local people's livelihoods but also the balanced development of national economics. Inner Mongolia , included in the project as a pilot site, will bring benefit to more small ethnic minorities.

"Poverty Reduction for Ethnic Minorities in China " is a joint cooperated project by Chinese government and UNDP, focused on poverty reduction. Executed by CICETE and implemented by the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, the project is jointly funded by UNDP with two million US dollars and the government matching five million US dollars. During the project implementation, advanced international experiences will be introduced and feasible anti-poverty model explored in the pilot areas in order to promote the national economic development.