Vice Minister Qu Dongyu visits FAO headquarters
DATE:2016-04-08 SOURCE:MOA
Vice Minister Qu Dongyu and his delegation visited the FAO headquarters in Rome on April 4, 2016. During his visit, Vice Minister Qu held talks with FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva and signed the South-South Cooperation (SSC) program agreement. The Permanent Representative of China to FAO Niu Dun attended relevant activities.
Qu spoke highly of the active role of FAO in promoting global agricultural development and safeguarding food security. He appreciated the sound cooperation between FAO and China, noting that the two sides share the same agricultural development concept. China is ready to work with FAO to consolidate the existing achievements, broaden cooperation fields and explore new modes so as to enhance global food security and sustainable development. Qu briefed José Graziano da Silva on China's strategic Belt and Road Initiative, emphasizing his willingness to push forward bilateral agricultural cooperation.
José Graziano da Silva appreciated China's remarkable achievements in eradicating hunger and poverty. In particular, he said that the China–FAO SSC programs have made practical contributions to agricultural development in developing countries, enriched the SSC mechanism and promoted global food security, setting an example of win-win cooperation, inclusiveness, innovation and common development.
José Graziano da Silva said that FAO is looking forward to strengthening cooperation with China in small farmers, food security and rural development to bring benefits to more countries under the framework of SSC. FAO promises firm support to China in hosting the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting and stands ready to provide assistance in gaining positive outcomes. José Graziano da Silva is scheduled to attend related meetings in China in June. He is expecting to take this opportunity to visit a few Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) in China and learn more about the amazing traditional Chinese farming culture.
The two sides also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the Chinese Hall of the FAO headquarters, and signed the tripartite agreement and MOU on SSC program with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).