Madam Chair,

China associates itself with the statement made by the State of Palestine on behalf of the Group of 77 and China.

Food security is about the survival of mankind, the economy of all countries and people’s livelihood. Agricultural development is crucial to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, in particular, to the achievement of the agriculture related SDG goals. In recent years, the rapid development in global agricultural science and technology has eased the situation of international food supply and demand. However, due to regional conflicts, climate change and other factors, the situation of world food security is not optimistic.

According to the Global Food Crisis Report 2019, 113 million people in the world still suffered from severe hunger in 2018, most of whom live in rural areas. Eliminating hunger and achieving food security depend on promoting equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth and establishing a fair, reasonable and sustainable agricultural trade order.

Based on the needs of developing countries, the international community should strengthen its support to developing countries, especially the LDCs, in the areas of agricultural technology and funding for development so as to boost their agricultural production and food security. Countries should increase input in agricultural, focusing on strengthening agricultural infrastructure construction, promoting scientific and technological progress, and enhancing comprehensive food production capacity.

Madam Chair,

China attaches great importance to the sustainable development of agriculture. In recent years, China has rolled out a series of policies and initiatives to accelerate the transformation of agricultural development model and promote new results in the development of green agriculture.

First, to achieve the goal of improving the efficiency of agricultural supply, we strive to adjust and optimize agricultural development and production pattern, promote the development of rural tourism and modernize agriculture and rural areas. Second, given our large population and scarcity in land and water resources, we have beefed up the protection of agricultural resources and persisted in shifting the agricultural production to a green and ecologically-friendly pattern. Third, to prevent and control pollution from agricultural production, we have endeavored to improve the environment of production areas. Fourth, we have stepped up reform and innovation and built a long-term mechanism for the development of green agriculture.

China attaches great importance to food production. It feeds nearly 20% of the world's population with only 9% of the world’s arable land, providing food for nearly 1.4 billion people, which is significant contributions to world food security. China has put forward a strategy of building a healthy China which includes: first, raising awareness of and promote the concept of healthy diet. Second, eliminating malnutrition. The initiative of Healthy Diet is one of the 15 concrete steps of the Action for a Healthy China (2019-2030) aimed at achieving the goal of eliminating malnutrition. Third, improving nutritional and health standards. Fourth, establishing a multi-sectoral working mechanism to increase the supply of nutritional and healthy products and services. China attaches great importance to poverty reduction in rural areas worldwide and has submitted to the General Assembly a resolution entitled "Eradicate rural poverty and implement the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development".

Looking into the future and under the framework of South-South cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, China stands ready to help developing countries strengthen agricultural production capacity, enhance food security, so that the benefits of nutrition and health can reach a larger population. We hope to jointly create a world without hunger and a community of shared future for mankind.

Thank you, Madam Chair.