Zhang Laiming, Vice-President of the Development Research Center of the State Council (DRC), took part in an international conference on poverty reduction and child development held on Oct 21-24, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse of Beijing.

With the theme "A Bright Start for Every Child", the Fourth International Conference on Poverty Reduction and Child Development ARNEC's 2015 Asia-Pacific Regional ECD Conference discussed commitments and actions to end child poverty, early child development and the development agenda after 2015, practice and experience of child development, and the best poverty reduction strategy.

More than 400 government officials, former politicians, representatives from social organizations and enterprises, and scholars from the Asia-Pacific region participated in the conference.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon sending a speech in written form.

Wang Mengkui, former President of the DRC and Director of the China Development Research Foundation, gave a welcoming address. DRC Vice-President Zhang Laiming presided over the first session of the conference.

The conference was organized by the China Development Research Foundation, the Asia Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood, and the United Nations' "Every Woman and Every Child" Project China Partner Network, with guidance from China's Ministry of Education, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People's Republic of China, and the DRC.

Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong delivers a speech at the opening ceremony.

A representative of the United Nations Children's Fund to China reads the written speech of United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.

Wang Mengkui, Director of the China Development Research Foundation, gives a welcoming address.

DRC Vice-President Zhang Laiming presides over the first session of the conference.