Contributing China’s Strength to Global Food Security – President Xi Jinping’s Congratulatory Letter on FAO’s 80th Anniversary Generates Warm Responses

On October 16, President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter to mark the 80th anniversary of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Celebrations for World Food Day and FAO’s 80th anniversary were held at the FAO headquarters in Rome, Italy.

International figures noted that President Xi’s letter highly commended FAO’s significant achievements and crucial role over the past 80 years, issued calls to strengthen global food and agricultural governance, demonstrated China’s firm determination and historical responsibility to contribute to global food security, and injected new momentum into accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals and improving people’s wellbeing worldwide.

President Xi stated in the letter that the FAO has played an important role in safeguarding global food security, promoting rural development and food system transformation, and improving living standards in various countries. He emphasized that China will continue to support the FAO in playing a significant role in international food and agriculture affairs.

An FAO Assistant Director-General stated that President Xi’s letter fully affirmed the organization’s important role in food security, rural development, food system transformation, and livelihood improvement, “This represents full recognition of our member states’ joint efforts and sets clear direction for our next phase of cooperation.”

The official added that the FAO needs and welcomes China’s experience, expertise, and innovation, and will continue working with China to expand knowledge sharing and capacity building, deepen practical cooperation in key areas including loss reduction and efficiency improvement, digital agriculture, and climate adaptation, to achieve “better production, better nutrition, better environment, and better life” without leaving anyone behind.

On the same day President Xi sent the letter, China’s Permanent Mission to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies was officially inaugurated in Rome.

The head of China’s Permanent Mission stated that President Xi’s letter provides direction and momentum for deepening cooperation between China and the FAO.

The mission head said China will translate the letter’s spirit into practical measures, continuously promote hybrid rice, juncao grass, water-saving irrigation, and pest control demonstrations through FAO platforms, promote digital agriculture, green low-carbon and climate adaptation technologies, strengthen loss reduction, efficiency improvement and system resilience, enhance talent cultivation and support youth innovation, fully implement global initiatives, and work with the FAO and other parties to jointly accelerate progress toward the “zero hunger” goal.

President Xi noted in the letter that the Chinese government attaches great importance to food security, insists on solving the food problem for over 1.4 billion people through its own efforts, and provides assistance to countries in need, contributing China’s strength to global food security.

After hearing President Xi’s letter, a representative from South Africa expressed deep appreciation, stating that China has achieved remarkable success in achieving food self-sufficiency and has successfully explored a sustainable path to ensuring national food security through technological progress and institutional innovation. “China’s rapid development in agricultural technology, smart agriculture, and AI-driven agriculture provides valuable experience for developing countries.”

The representative said that through South-South cooperation projects with the FAO, China has promoted rice cultivation, fish farming, irrigation facility construction, mechanization promotion, and technological innovation in multiple African countries, helping improve agricultural production efficiency. “These projects have brought tangible yield increases and employment opportunities.”

A representative from Colombia stated that President Xi’s emphasis on contributing China’s strength to global food security is “highly relevant.” China has achieved extraordinary success in eliminating hunger and poverty, and Colombia hopes to learn from China’s experience to accelerate rural poverty reduction and agricultural modernization.

The Colombian representative said agricultural cooperation between the two countries has grown increasingly close in recent years, with long-term cooperation mechanisms established in agricultural technology, innovation, and small agricultural machinery manufacturing. Colombia has begun sending students to China to learn agricultural innovation technologies. “China is helping Colombia promote small agricultural machinery suitable for local rural areas to improve farmers’ productivity, while Colombia actively exports high-quality agricultural products like coffee, beef, and fruits to China, achieving mutual benefits.”

“I have personally witnessed Chinese experts promoting high-yield hybrid rice in Africa and guiding small farmers in Southeast Asian mountainous areas to repair terraces and optimize water conservancy and farming methods,” said the president of a global agricultural heritage foundation. China’s foreign agricultural cooperation adheres to localization, sustainability, and maintainability, establishing numerous agricultural technology demonstration and training platforms in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, promoting practical measures including rice cultivation, rice-fish symbiosis, water-saving irrigation, and small farmer organization building, directly benefiting millions of farming households.

“In food production and agricultural innovation, China serves as an exemplary model, providing inspiration for Brazil,” said a Brazilian official. “I believe that when countries join hands

FAO headquarters

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations is headquartered in Rome, Italy. Established in 1945 in Quebec, Canada, the organization later moved its headquarters to Rome in 1951. Its primary mission is to lead international efforts to defeat hunger and improve nutrition and food security worldwide.

Rome

Rome, the capital of Italy, was founded in the 8th century BC and grew to become the epicenter of the vast Roman Empire. It is renowned for its ancient ruins such as the Colosseum and Roman Forum, as well as its profound influence on law, politics, and culture throughout Western history. Today, it remains a major global city and a treasure trove of art, architecture, and history.

Italy

Italy is a country with a rich cultural heritage rooted in the ancient Roman Empire and further shaped by the Renaissance. It is home to numerous UNESCO World Heritage sites, including historic cities like Rome, Florence, and Venice, as well as iconic landmarks such as the Colosseum and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Today, Italy remains a global center for art, architecture, cuisine, and fashion.

China’s Permanent Mission to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies

China’s Permanent Mission to the UN Food and Agriculture Agencies is a diplomatic office representing the People’s Republic of China at the Rome-based United Nations food agencies (FAO, WFP, and IFAD). Established following the People’s Republic of China’s assumption of the China seat at the United Nations in 1971, the mission works to advance China’s engagement in global food security, agricultural development, and poverty reduction initiatives. It facilitates cooperation between China and these international organizations.

South Africa

South Africa is a country located at the southern tip of the African continent, known for its diverse cultures, languages, and stunning natural landscapes. Its modern history is profoundly shaped by colonialism and the institutionalized racial segregation of Apartheid, which ended in 1994 with the establishment of a democratic government. Today, it is often called the “Rainbow Nation” and is famous for landmarks like Table Mountain, Kruger National Park, and Robben Island, where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned.

Colombia

Colombia is a South American nation with a rich cultural heritage shaped by its indigenous civilizations, Spanish colonization, and diverse geography. Its history includes powerful pre-Columbian societies like the Muisca, the establishment of New Granada as a Spanish viceroyalty, and its hard-won independence in the 19th century. Today, it is known for its vibrant cities, coffee culture, and significant biodiversity.

Southeast Asian mountainous areas

The mountainous regions of Southeast Asia are home to a rich tapestry of indigenous cultures and ancient history. These highlands have historically served as a refuge for diverse ethnic groups, who developed unique traditions, languages, and agricultural practices like terraced rice farming, often distinct from the dominant lowland civilizations. The area’s history is also marked by its role in regional trade routes and its significance during the conflicts of the 20th century.

Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America, known for its vast Amazon rainforest and vibrant cultural traditions like samba and Carnival. Its history includes centuries of Portuguese colonization, which began in 1500 and profoundly shaped its language and culture, followed by the establishment of an independent empire in 1822 and a republic in 1889. Today, it is a diverse, federative republic celebrated for its multicultural society and significant global role.