Chinese Vice Minister of Agriculture Zhang Baowen Wednesday called on the international community to make joint efforts to tackle the world's food security problem.  

Zhang is heading the Chinese delegation at a two-week conference of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which opened Nov. 29 in Rome.

The official said that since the World Food Summit and United Nations Millennium Declaration, all governments have fulfilled their promises by earnestly implementing the Rome Declaration on World Food Security and its action plan. As a result, the general situation of food security has, to a certain extent, been improved.

However, Zhang said, unresolved problems persist to threaten world food security.

The realization of such a basic human right as access to food requires concerted efforts of the international community and all governments in the world, he added.

At the meeting, the vice minister briefed the participants on the adjustments China has made in the agricultural sector, saying that with continued efforts, China will achieve sustainable development in agricultural production, improve its food security and further reduce its poverty population.

He went on to say that China has attached great importance to and actively participated in international agricultural exchanges and cooperation, and will make greater contributions to the development of world agriculture and the improvement of world food security.

The 32nd General Conference of the Rome-based FAO, set to end on Dec. 10, is focusing on assessment of world food security, enactment of action plan and budget for 2004-2005, admission of four new members and re-election of council members.

(Xinhua News Agency December 5, 2003)