BEIJING - The sixth South-South Learning Forum kicked off in Beijing on Nov 10 to promote knowledge on social protection in urban areas.

The week-long forum, themed “Emerging Social Protection Systems in an Urbanizing World”, attracted around 250 policymakers from 75 countries.

“The Chinese government pays high attention to the improvement of people’s livelihood and social protection,” Chinese State Councilor Wang Yong said, adding that China will continue to advance the construction of its social protection system and social safety net programs.

He also said China will continue to support and participate in South-South cooperation, advance pragmatic cooperation with developing countries and make joint efforts to promote economic development and improve people’s livelihood.

This event aims to share our collective knowledge on how to operate safety nets in urban settings, said Keith Hansen, the World Bank Group’s vice president for Human development.

“We also stand to gain from China’s stellar experience in bringing more than 600 million people out of poverty over three decades and the experience with its urban social safety nets program--the Dibao,” he said.