Ambassador Guang Defu, Permanent Representative of China to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture, attended the regional groups dialogue of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Mar. 4，2022.   

The dialogue discussed FAO priority areas concerning the “four betters” (better production, better nutrition, a better environment, and a better life), support for other member states, and cooperation with all parties. Participants also discussed implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31.  

Ambassador Guang Defu underlined that Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Development Initiative at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The Initiative proposed eight key areas including food security and poverty reduction. China is willing to enable its development strategy dovetail with those of other partners to promote in-depth cooperation in key areas under the framework of the FAO and by other bilateral and multilateral channels.  

Ambassador Guang Defu stated that China has shifted the focus of work related to agriculture, rural areas and farmers to comprehensively promoting rural revitalization featuring rural development, the construction of rural infrastructure and rural governance. The MARA will highlight grain production, industrial development, construction of rural infrastructure, and farmers’ income growth. Such priorities have much in common with part of FAO’s 20 Programme Priority Areas. In terms of international agricultural exchange and cooperation, MARA’s efforts will be centered on food security, digital agriculture, the adaptation to climate change, and animal and plant diseases control.  

Ambassador Guang Defu expressed China’s willingness to work with FAO under the framework of South-South Cooperation and tripartite cooperation, and intensify cooperation in food loss reduction, digital governance, globally important agricultural heritage system (GIAHS), poverty reduction, and soil health and International Tea Day. China stands ready to leverage the role of FAO reference centers and seek more areas of cooperation with the FAO.  

Ambassador Guang Defu invited the FAO and its member states to the upcoming International Tea Day celebration, 2022 International Forum on Soil Health and the International Conference on Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System to be held in China.