Diplomatic envoys from 10 countries of Southeast and South Asia visited a model village of poverty alleviation in Guilin, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, on Wednesday. The group had a themed exchange on ethnic unity and expressed appreciation for China's achievements.

Invited by the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the envoys traveled to Xilong village in Gaotian town, whose residents are mainly ethnic Zhuang.

Villager Lu Menggang, 72, told Xinhua News Agency, "Our life quality has been greatly improved in recent years. Elderly people have longer lives."

The town has been improving its living environment and the natural surroundings of the village this year to make it a model village with Zhuang characteristics and a combination of agriculture and tourism. Now the average annual income of residents is about 15,000 yuan ($2,329).

Song Tao, minister of the International Department, introduced the Party's achievements in poverty alleviation and ethnic unity during a meeting featuring thematic exchanges, which drew high praise from the envoys.

Mahbub Uz Zaman, ambassador to China from Bangladesh, praised China's poverty reduction model for the world, noting that ethnic groups flourish together.

Abrao dos Santos, ambassador of Timor-Leste to China, also congratulated China on the elimination of absolute poverty: "The lives of the Chinese people have been improved under the leadership of the CPC, even in a remote rural village."