On August 19, Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources of China, met with Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on deepening practical cooperation.

Li Guoying noted that the Ministry of Water Resources has firmly put into place the water governance principles of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches, and promoting government-market synergy” proposed by President Xi Jinping. The Ministry has worked systematically to establish institutional frameworks for enhancing agricultural water conservation and efficiency, thereby providing robust support for bolstering resilience of agriculture against floods and droughts and ensuring national food security. Currently, climate change is exacerbating the global challenge of agricultural water scarcity. Li Guoying commended the FAO for its vital contributions to global food security, the dissemination of advanced technologies and concepts, and the promotion of international cooperation in water resources and agriculture. He expressed the Ministry’s readiness to further deepen collaboration with the FAO in areas such as policies and technological innovation for agricultural water conservation and efficiency.

Qu Dongyu highly praised China’s remarkable achievements in agricultural water conservation and efficiency. He expressed the hope for enhanced cooperation with China in areas including technology demonstration for water-efficient agriculture, global water cycle research, and the utilization of rainwater and flood resources. He also looks forward to sharing China’s experience, solutions, and expertise in safeguarding food security through water resources management with countries around the world, particularly those in the Global South.

Source: INTCE