The 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) ministerial meeting on food security was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. The event gathered representatives from 21 APEC economies and international organizations to discuss methods for strengthening regional food security.
Approximately 200 delegates from APEC countries, along with staff from the APEC Secretariat and organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), attended the meeting. The main focus was on topics including the development of high-quality agriculture and rural areas, technological innovations, and the role of digital agriculture in enhancing food security.
Tom Rosser, Assistant Deputy Minister of Canada's Ministry of Agriculture and Agri-Food, highly praised China's achievements in agricultural development and innovation. He noted that China's success in eradicating absolute poverty, strengthening food security, and ensuring stable food supplies for its vast population is an unprecedented achievement in human development.
According to Rosser, China has accumulated valuable experience in digital agriculture, smart farming, and climate-resilient breeding. He added that through long-term partnership and openness, the country has created a comprehensive system of agricultural innovation and industrial development that holds great value for APEC economies.
A joint declaration was adopted during the meeting, calling for continued cooperation to improve food quality and production, increase efficiency, and strengthen the resilience of regional food systems. Principles of innovation and digitalization were also approved, forming the basis for enhanced decision-making, connectivity, and response across the entire food supply chain.
Participants discussed priority areas, including the digital transformation of agriculture, enhancing the resilience of food systems, promoting regional trade, and advancing practical cooperation. The goal of these measures is to strengthen mechanisms of agricultural interaction and promote sustainable development in the Asia-Pacific region.
Zhao Bin, representative of the World Food Programme (WFP) in China, called for deeper engagement among APEC economies to exchange experiences in agricultural innovation and development, including China's experience. Zhao stated: 'We look forward to deepening cooperation among APEC economies, exchanging achievements in agricultural innovation and development experience, promoting agricultural trade, and jointly building resilient food systems.'
He also emphasized that such efforts will help address risks such as extreme weather conditions and supply chain disruptions, protect regional and global food security, and contribute to achieving the goal of zero hunger worldwide.