28 October 2022, China: Ambassador of China to the UN FAO Guang Defu met with Alvaro Lario, newly appointed President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in Rome on Oct. 24, 2022.
Ambassador Guang Defu, who is also Permanent Representative of China to FAO, spoke highly of IFAD achievements since Alvaro Lario assumed office, and appreciated his calling on the global community to cope with the food crisis and greater investment in agriculture. All these efforts help IFAD image building and enable a good start in his presidency term.
Ambassador Guang then briefed about the progress on the China-proposed Global Development Initiative (GDI), saying that GDI is highly aligned with IFAD’s principles of supporting rural poverty reduction and transformation. He hoped IFAD will play an active role in the cooperation under GDI, propose joint projects, and participate in implementing GDI projects, thus contributing to the delivery of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Ambassador Guang reiterated that China-IFAD cooperation has vast potential, hoping that IFAD could offer financial support for rural revitalization in China.
President Lario expressed his sincere appreciation to China for its continuous support of IFAD. China, IFAD’s partner for more than 40 years, represents an important donor country and a firm supporter of agricultural and rural development as well as the transformation of food systems. IFAD will work out ways to participate in GDI and continue conducting joint projects with China.
Among the meeting was Wu Guoqi, IFAD Associate Vice-President, and Counselor Mei Hongyong, Deputy Permanent Representative of China to FAO.
