The 14th Annual Consultation Meeting of the China–FAO South-South Cooperation Programme was held in Beijing on September 20. Zhang Zhili, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Beth Bechdol, FAO Deputy Director-General, co-chaired the meeting.

Vice Minister Zhang said that since the establishment of the China–FAO South-South Cooperation Trust Fund, China has actively shared its agricultural development experience, practical technologies and outcomes of institutional innovations with relevant developing countries, helping enhance local agricultural production capacity and widely receiving a positive response from host countries. China stands ready to further strengthen coordination with the FAO on South-South cooperation and support agricultural development in developing countries by improving full-lifecycle project management, strengthening project evaluation, and expanding triangular cooperation, thereby promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. 

Deputy Director-General Bechdol expressed appreciation for China’s longstanding and steadfast support for South-South cooperation. She said that the FAO stands ready to deepen cooperation with China and facilitate the implementation of more South-South cooperation projects, so as to make greater contributions to the transformation of global agri-food systems. 

The meeting reviewed the Progress Report on the China–FAO South-South Cooperation Programme for 2025–2026, discussed proposals for new projects for 2026–2027, and adopted the 2026–2027 Annual Work Plan. 

Before the meeting, Vice Minister Zhang met with Deputy Director-General Bechdol. They exchanged views on deepening cooperation between China and the FAO.