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UN Food Systems Summit Convenes

Source:MARA Date:2021-09-28

 

The UN Food Systems Summit was held via video conference from Sept. 23 to 24. Tang Renjian, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China, led the Chinese delegation to attend the event and delivered remarks. He shared China’s achievements and experience in food and agricultural development, and expressed his views on propelling the transformation of the global food system and deepening international cooperation in agriculture.

 

Tang said that the Chinese government always gives top priority to ensure that everyone has adequate access to food. The nation has seen a tremendous improvement in its overall food productivity thanks to more than 70 years of tireless efforts. For six consecutive years, China's grain production has remained steady at more than 650 million tons, thus solving the food needs of 1.4 billion people and making a huge contribution to global food security.

 

Tang pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic is still wreaking havoc around the world, and 811 million people are still affected by undernourishment globally. Global food security is facing immense pressure. The task of achieving the zero hunger goal of the UN 2030 Agenda remains a daunting one. It is important that all stakeholders join hands to transform global food systems, deliver common and sustainable development and foster shared growth for the global community. Tang put forth three proposals: 1) Work together to elevate food production capacity, prioritize food and agricultural issues, boost investment in agriculture and rural affairs, accelerate progress in science and technology, improve infrastructure, and embrace green transformation to increase food availability in a sustainable way. 2) Ensure unimpeded supply chains, actively push for trade liberalization, facilitate investment, lift unjustified trade restrictions, reduce food loss and waste, and build an efficient, open, and equitable food supply system. 3) Improve global governance on food and agriculture, give full play to the role of UN agencies, enhance North-South, South-South and Triangular Cooperation, step up financial and technical support to developing countries, and promote a more efficient and sound global food governance system.

 

Ma Youxiang, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, also attended the summit. During the summit, the Chinese delegation released documents, including the Report on the Path to Sustainable Development of Food Systems in China and the UN Food Systems Summit: China’s Position.

 

The summit, initiated by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, attracted high-level delegations from about 200 countries and regions to attend.

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