Group 77 and China Bureau held a video conference with Mr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on June 30, 2020. The conference was hosted by H.E. Esti Andayani, Chairperson of G77 and China Bureau and Indonesian Ambassador and Permanent Representative to FAO Embassy. H.E. Niu Dun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of China to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture, attended and addressed conference.   

G77 and China Bureau members and Director-General Qu had an in-depth exchange of views on agenda items of the 164th Session of FAO Council to be held on 6-10 July, FAO’s response to COVID-19 pandemic and relevant initiatives, cooperation between FAO and the Group of 77 and China. 

Ambassador Niu Dun expressed appreciation to Ambassador Esti Andayani for organizing the meeting amid pandemic. He noted that the COVID-19 pandemic had profound impact on global food and agriculture. In a time of great change, FAO needs to carry out reforms, including adjustment to its organizational structure, to adapt to its mission. He hoped that FAO could continue leveraging its technical strengths and assisting member states of the Group of 77 and China in dealing with the adverse impact brought by the pandemic in food and agriculture. China will as always safeguard multilateralism, improve the global governance of food and agriculture, and support FAO in carrying out its work with efficiency and effectiveness, in an effort to fulfill the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. 

Over 40 Presidents and Vice Presidents of regional groups attended the video conference.