A group of professional sign-language livestreamers in Linping district. [Photo/Linping District Disabled Persons' Federation]

Five Hangzhou initiatives have been selected as recommended cases in the 6th Global Solicitation on Best Poverty Reduction Practices, underscoring the city's innovative and inclusive approaches to shared development.

The list was released on Dec 10 at the 2025 International Seminar on Global Poverty Reduction Partnerships in Beijing. Jointly launched by seven institutions, including the China International Poverty Reduction Center, the World Bank and several UN agencies, the program selected 108 cases worldwide from 840 submissions across 40 countries and regions. Zhejiang province secured 13 spots — the highest nationwide — of which Hangzhou accounted for five.

One Hangzhou case was a sign language livestreaming e-commerce model, submitted by the Hangzhou Disabled Persons' Federation, Linping District Disabled Persons' Federation, and Hangzhou Yule Culture Media Co. The project has built a full pathway from training to employment for people with hearing impairments, nurturing professional sign-language livestreamers and creating dozens of jobs in the digital economy.

Professors inspect the growth of torreya. [Photo/Zhejiang A&F University]

Another selected case highlights scientific innovation upgrading the torreya (Chinese nutmeg yew) industry. A research team from Zhejiang A&F University spent over three decades advancing breeding, cultivation and processing technologies, helping transform a slow-growing traditional crop into a high-value industry. The model has boosted farmers' incomes and been replicated in multiple regions.

A third case, Ant Group's Digital Mulan program, demonstrates how digital tools can empower women in underdeveloped areas. Since 2018, the initiative has combined insurance support, practical training, and employment assistance, enabling tens of thousands of women to gain the skills necessary to find quality jobs and lead fulfilling lives.

The remaining two Hangzhou cases, though not detailed here, also reflect innovative, inclusive and replicable approaches. Together, the five cases present a clear Hangzhou sample for global poverty reduction and shared development.

Village girls play football with the support of Ant Group's Digital Mulan program. [Photo/Ant Group]