Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (L) shakes hands with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi before the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on July 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
BALI, Indonesia, July 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi expounded here Friday on China's stance on food and energy security, and proposed a cooperation initiative on global food security.
Addressing the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting, Wang said food and energy hold key to the healthy performance of the world economy and the effective implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Under the current situation, the G20 should shoulder its due responsibility and establish a partnership on commodity cooperation. To achieve the goal, Wang made eight proposals:
First, supporting the United Nations in playing a key role in coordination. The role of the United Nations should be strengthened rather then weakened, and the work of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the international Fund for Agricultural Development and the UN World Food Programme (WFP) should be supported, Wang said.
Second, not imposing export restriction on humanitarian food purchases by the WFP.
Third, offering convenience to the smooth entry of Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian agricultural products into the international market.
Fourth, major food producing and net export countries should release their own export potential, reduce trade and technical barriers, control energy utilization of food, so as to ease the tight food supply in the market.
Fifth, the emergency measures taken by countries for food trade should be short-term, transparent, targeted and appropriate, and conform to the rules of the World Trade Organization.
Sixth, supporting the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research and the innovation and cooperation on agricultural science and technology among countries, and reducing restrictions on high-tech exchanges.
Seventh, reducing food loss and waste. China has hosted the International Conference on Food Loss and Waste and stands ready to jointly implement the consensus reached at the conference.
Eighth, helping developing countries enhance their capacity of food production, storage and loss reduction in terms of capital, technology and market.
China is a reliable cooperative partner of the United Nations and developing countries in the field of food security, Wang said, adding that China supports the WFP in setting up a global humanitarian emergency warehouse and hub in China, established the South-South Cooperation Trust Fund with the FAO and provided financial support for it.
Under the trust fund, China has carried out more than 40 South-South cooperation projects in cooperation with the FAO and the WFP, Wang said.
China has established agricultural cooperation zones with some developing countries, and conducted agricultural science and technology exchanges with over 140 countries and regions, Wang said.
Since the beginning of this year, China has provided more than 15,000 tons of emergency humanitarian food aid to developing countries in need, and will continue to make new efforts to promote food security. ■
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi (C) attends the Group of 20 (G20) foreign ministers' meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on July 8, 2022. (Xinhua/Xu Qin)
