By TRN Online, Kathmandu, Dec. 30: China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) commemorated its 6-years anniversary in the social development sector of Nepal holding a formal programme on Wednesday.

Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Uma Regmi, graced the ceremony which was chaired by Zhou Zhiqiang, Country Director of CFPA Nepal Office. Offiicals from government departments, Social Welfare Council, CFPA Beijing Headquarter (online), representatives of NGOs and INGOs in Nepal attended the ceremony.

The ceremony was officially inaugurated jointly by Minister Uma Regmi and Zou Zhiqiang by lighting the Nepalese traditional oil lamp (Diyo). The Executive Vice-President of China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation  Liu Wenkui presented the welcome speech, congratulating CFPA Nepal Office for its achievement in Nepal and expressed gratitude to the Nepal Government and all individuals aiding to promote CFPA’s works, according to a press note issued by the CFPA.

During the ceremony, the CFPA Nepal Office presented its six-years work review through video footage compilation and slide presentation demonstrating its interventions in emergency rescue, post-disaster recovery & reconstruction, pandemic & flood disaster relief and community development projects. The organization stated that it has so far expended 5.83 million USD benefiting 462,357 person-times in the country in past 6 years.

Addressing the seminar to mark the sixth anniversary of CFPA Nepal, Minister Uma Regmi described CFPA's efforts as remarkable. “I came to know that this NGO has been supporting Nepal since right after the earthquake and during COVID-19 in several areas, including tent and food distribution, computer and school bag distribution, skill development training and oxygen concentrator distribution," she said. "China has come forward to support us in times of crisis," she added, pledging full support to CFPA Nepal in the future.

Similarly, Leela Mani Paudyal, the former Nepalese Ambassador to China, said the CFPA with rich experience in the area of poverty alleviation has used local resources very well in its works in Nepal. "Its work in Nepal will definitely help reduce poverty in Nepal," he said, adding that China's poverty eradication would also provide lessons to Nepal.

Former Governor of Bagmati Province and Founder of Maiti Nepal, Anuradha Koirala congratulated CFPA Nepal Office for its successful journey in Nepal to make remarkable contributions in social welfare sector of Nepal and advised to make effective intervention for promotion and upliftment of underprivileged Nepalese women.

Speaking at the ceremony, Member Secretary of Social Welfare Council of Nepal Manoj Bhatta congratulated CFPA for its glorious 6-year journey and assured to assist the organization, whenever required in future cooperation. The Member Secretary also handed over token of appreciation to the country director of CFPA Nepal Office for its remarkable contribution to Nepal and Nepalese people.

Most of the delegates, present in the ceremony appreciated CFPA’s working strategy and programs as impact-oriented, directly benefiting the targeted beneficiaries as per the need of local community and people.

Along with the formal ceremony, two sessions of panel discussion were also held in participation of the experts to discourse the CFPA’s role in poverty alleviation in Nepal and obtain feedbacks and suggestions to advance the organization’s strategy in further project design and interventions.

Delivering her closing remarks for the ceremony, Country Director of CFPA Nepal Office Zou Zhiqiang acknowledged presence of all distinguished guests and expressed sincere gratitude for being part of the memorable celebration. She added; ‘I am grateful for the responses received from several experts today, as they would be much prolific for formulation our future project plan and activities’.