China's formula to reduce poverty could help developing nations

China has earned a reputation as the world's factory, exporting everything from cheap toys to high-end electronics. But it can now offer an even more valuable export - its formula for reducing poverty.

World Bank figures show that some 600 million Chinese have been taken out of poverty in the past 30 years. UN World Food Programme officials believe Beijing's success with its home-grown methods of reducing poverty and increasing food production can help other developing nations.

China has stepped up its overseas aid massively in recent years, a trend that has seen the China Development Bank become the world's largest lender.

Brett Rierson, China representative for the World Food Programme says the nation offers a model for developing countries. "China invested in agriculture to reduce poverty and successful agricultural projects were built up from the grass roots. These were not top-down solutions," he said.

"The Chinese government and World Food Programme selected the successful agricultural projects and implemented them throughout the nation. Think of the soft power China would gain if it focused this ability and exported it."

Rierson says African and Southeast Asian governments are negotiating with Beijing for Chinese participation in agricultural projects.