China's Xinhua news agency joins hands with UNDP

BEIJING: The Xinhua News Agency, China largest wire services Monday joined hands with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) by holding photo contest to highlight the plight of the poverty stricken people living around the world.

At an impressive ceremony "Zoom-in on Poverty Global Photo Contest" held at the Diaoyutai (State Guest house) awards were distributed among the best photographs by the President of Xinhua News Agency Li Congjun and Administrator UNDP Helen Clark.

The "Zoom-in on Poverty" World Photo Contest is a global public welfare campaign initiated by the President of Xinhua News Agency, Li Congjun.

As part of a broader partnership for development, it represents a joint initiative between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Xinhua News Agency.

The aim of the competition was to refocus the world's attention towards poverty, through photographic media that portrays some of the causes, solutions and achievements made in poverty alleviation to date.

In seeking to focus the world's attention on poverty and accelerate progress made in the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it also seeks to generate support from people, governments and businesses all around the world in the global fight against poverty.

According to the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), it is intended that poverty will be halved by 2015 through global efforts, compared with that of 1990.

Yet, in an era of globalization, poverty is becoming an increasingly daunting challenge.

Much more than just an economic problem, it often impacts upon other areas of human development, as well as impacting upon political stability and global harmony.

With less than five years left to meet this target, Xinhua News Agency, as a responsible international news platform, has once again joined hands with the United Nations to help make this goal a reality.

The competition was opened to entries from members of world-renowned news media, professional organizations and both professional and amateur photographers as well as the associated institutions.

Distinguished entries will be presented to the public via Xinhua's newswire network, newspapers, magazines, TV network, website, Xinhua photo galleries, and showrooms at UN agencies throughout the world. Speaking on the occasion the President Xinhua news agency said that it is a great honour for Xinhua news agency and the UNDP to promote this photo contest.

He expressed thanks to all participating photographers for paying special attention to highlight the poverty through their work.

Li said that by participation of prominent news organizations from around the world in this contest made it more professional.

The Administrator UNDP Helen Clark in her speech pointed out that these photos also remind us that poverty is a global problem.

"Global partnerships help to tackle it, and sharing experiences from nations like China which has massively reduced extreme poverty helps other along that path", she added.

The Deputy Director of Xinhua News Agency Li Jingbo while talking to APP said that as many as 22000 entries were received from one hundred countries and region for the contest held for the first time.

The competitions were held in seven categories, he added.

Copyright Reuters, 2011