China, UN sign pact to boost global food security

The National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration and the World Food Program signed a memorandum of understanding on South-South cooperation in Zhengzhou, capital of Central China's Henan province, on Thursday, marking a deepened collaboration between the UN and China to improve global food security through innovation and South-South cooperation.

Zhang Wufeng, director of the administration, said China's food security has improved markedly in the past 70 years, with a balance between supply and demand of grains achieved.

"The signing of the memorandum is aimed at intensifying grain cooperation between China and the WFP, and helping promote China's technology and experiences in areas including management of grain storage and reserves, reducing waste, and facilitating market access for small farmers to other developing countries to ensure international food security," he said.

As one of China's most important centers of agricultural production, Henan is a major grain producing province.

"China has made enormous strides over the past decades in overcoming hunger and alleviating poverty. Between 1990 and 2015, China lifted more than 700 million people out of poverty, contributing immensely to the global poverty eradication effort. This unprecedented success in alleviating poverty and hunger domestically is truly remarkable," said Nicholas Rosellini, UN resident coordinator. "Unsurprisingly, many developing countries seek to learn from China and find ways to mirror China's success throughout the developing world."

He said that it is generally acknowledged that hunger is both a violation of human dignity and an obstacle to social, political and economic progress. And this is why the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has put "zero hunger" high on the agenda.

"I see today's MOU signing as the first step toward the journey to achieve the global goal on no hunger and I encourage everyone to work together to deliver on the commitment to leave no one behind," he said.

Stanlake Samkange, senior director of strategic coordination and support, World Food Program, said people face the severe challenge of food security in the world, with 821 million still remaining hungry. In the past 30 years, China has achieved tremendous achievements in poverty reduction and economic development, he said, adding Thursday's event is a milestone for strengthening the cooperation of two sides.

The cooperation will help to share China's experience and successes in overcoming food security challenges with other developing countries, he said.