Minister Han Changfu met Dr. José Graziano da Silva, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, on June 4, 2016.
FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva was visiting China to attend the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting. Vice Minister Qu Dongyu and Mr. Niu Dun, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the People's Republic of China to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture in Rome, also attended the meeting.
Minister Han Changfu expressed his appreciation for FAO's support and contribution to the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting. He noted that the G20 agricultural ministers pledged to meet agriculture-related goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the Meeting.
Minister Han Changfu proposed that China and the FAO, while enjoying solid foundation of cooperation, should integrate their resources and harmonize strategies to promote agricultural development and food security in China and the world. He also request FAO to implement the outcomes of the Communiqué of the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting and initiate the building of the Agricultural ICT Exchange and Cooperation Platform as soon as possible. He hoped that the FAO dovetail its programmes with the China-initiated Belt and Road Initiative and promote the agricultural cooperation in relevant regions and countries by bringing its advantages into full play.
FAO Director-General José Graziano da Silva extended warm congratulations on the success of the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting and paid high tribute to China for its hard work. He fully agreed with Minister Han on his proposals, pledging that the FAO will actively support and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and jointly work out and implement the plan for agricultural cooperation.