Wednesday was a busy day for European Union institutions, with the European Council holding an emergency summit to discuss a further Brexit extension for the United Kingdom, but there was still time for the European Parliament in Brussels to host a photo exhibition about China’s achievements in poverty reduction.

The event drew the attention of Carmen Hilario, a political advisor to the budget committee of the European Parliament, who went to see the 40-plus photographs that highlight the wide range of achievements that China has made in poverty alleviation during the last four decades.

“I believe that, worldwide, we are all very proud of what the Chinese people were able to do,” said the Portuguese national. “It’s an astonishing achievement that indeed has no parallel, even in the history of humankind.”

She visited China for the second time last year, with her 12-year-old daughter and said the change from her first trip 10 years ago was “astonishing”.

“China is to be congratulated,” she said. “And it’s indeed an example that if we all get together and work for it, we will be able to achieve and foster progress and growth for all the humankind.”