BEIJING - United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator Helen Clark said in Beijing on Monday that, despite the global financial crisis, the world is on track to achieve the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of halving poverty by 2015.

"It is largely because of China's efforts," Clark said on the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, noting China has lifted thousands of people out of poverty in the past 30 years, bringing up the world's average.

"We are seeking ways of linking China's experiences with the world," she said.

Clark is in Beijing to attend the 2011 Global Poverty Reduction and Development Forum and the "Zoom-in on Poverty" Global Photo Contest.

"The global economic situation is very grave," said Clark, who recently attended the Group of 20 finance ministers' meeting in Paris.

She said if issues in developed economies can not be effectively addressed, there will be negative impacts on emerging economies and the least-developed countries across the world.

"We are living in a very difficult time," she said, noting that the world is still facing very serious challenges like climate change, war and conflict, and insufficient food resources for the growing world population."

She said the world's population is expected to reach 7 billion later this month, adding more pressure to the food supply.

To ensure food security, she suggested that the world should invest in agriculture and rural sectors, and try to lift agricultural production and productivity over the next decade.

Clark said China's actions in rural areas still lag behind in terms of international averages.

She called on the Chinese government to pay more attention to rural people and urbanized migrant workers, and to secure their rights and access to social protection.

"I feel that China is determined to address these issues, and I am very optimistic about that," she said.

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