China to Contribute More to Promoting Food Security in Africa

Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki with Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao. Eritrea has been accused by the UN of supporting the Al-Shabab resistance forces fighting the Washington-backed TFG., a photo by Pan-African News Wire File Photos on Flickr.

China to contribute more to promoting food security in Africa: FM

UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to work with the international community to make greater contributions to improving food security in African countries and sustainable development, said Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi here Saturday.

While addressing the Ministerial Mini-Summit on the Humanitarian Response to the Horn of Africa on the sidelines of the ongoing annual general debate of the United Nations General Assembly's 66th session, Yang said that China is gravely concerned with the most severe drought and famine in 60 years that have occurred in Northeast Africa, also known as Horn of Africa. The Chinese government has announced to provide the African region with emergency grain aid and money donation, which is worth about 70 million US dollars, he said.

"It is the largest amount of grain assistance in Chinese foreign aid since the founding of New China, which set another live example of Sino-African friendship in overcoming difficulties and hardship together," Yang said.

The international community should actively support African nations in their efforts to achieve food security and development, and increase assistance to agricultural development in Africa and offer a favorable environment for the development of African nations, he said.

"China has long been undertaking comprehensive and various cooperation with African countries in area of agriculture. China- Africa Cooperation Forum has listed agriculture as its cooperation priority and implemented a number of measures to support agricultural development and to promote food security in Africa," said Yang.

China has also conducted cooperation with Africa in the fields of infrastructure, technology transfer and personnel training under the framework of the UN.

Representatives from more than 60 countries and international organizations, including the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon attended the ministerial mini-summit meeting.
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