The 2023 World Food Day and World Food Forum kicked off at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) on Oct. 16. Ambassador Guang Defu, Permanent Representative of China to FAO and head of the Chinese government delegation, attended the meeting. 

President Sergio Mattarella of Italy, President Michael D. Higgins of Ireland, President Abdul Latif Rashid of Iraq, President Faustin-Archange Touadéra of the Central African Republic, King Letsie III of Lesotho, Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa of Tanzania, Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, President Alvaro Lario of the International Fund for Agricultural Development, and Executive Director Cindy H. McCain of the World Food Programme attended the meeting and delivered remarks. António Guterres, UN Secretary-General, Lotay Tshering, Prime Minister of Bhutan, and Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, participated via video conference and delivered remarks.   

The theme of this year’s World Food Day was “Water is life, water is food. Leave no one behind.” Director-General Qu emphasized in his speech the significance of water resources for agricultural and food production. He called on the global community to enhance water resources management; make full use of science, innovation, data, and technology to increase food production while reducing water consumption; strengthen partnerships and coordination among departments; improve integrated water resources management and infrastructure investment; and increase the participation of various groups including the private sector, farmers, women, youth, and indigenous people. The 20^th session of the UN General Assembly designated Oct. 16, the day FAO was founded, as World Food Day to reaffirm global commitment to action and promote the transformation of agrifood systems. During World Food Day celebrations, nearly 500 featured events were organized in 150 countries. 

The World Food Forum, with the theme of "Agrifood systems transformation accelerates climate action," was held by FAO from Oct. 16–20. The forum included three flagship series: the Global Youth Forum, the Science and Innovation Forum, and the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum. The forum brought together around 10,000 participants, including government leaders, experts, and changemakers, to discuss solutions and address agrifood system challenges. Counselor Li Bo, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to FAO, participated in the event.