Egypt’s Ambassador to Italy Bassam Radi, on behalf of the Egyptian government, has congratulated QU Dongyu on his reelection as Director-General of the Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). QU is the first Chinese to be reelected for the international post for two successive tenure.
Talking to the Chinese official news agency Xinhua, and the Xinhua News Network Corporation, Radi expressed Egypt’s hopes for extensive co-operation and coordination with the FAO, amid the current global conditions as the issue of food security and agricultural production is aggravating.
Referring to the Egyptian-Chinese ties, Radi stressed the integration of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative with Egypt’s development efforts, mainly pertaining to the Suez Canal axis, and infrastructure projects across the nation, focusing on roads, seaports and energy.
QU was on Sunday re-elected to a second term as FAO Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In ballot by FAO member countries, he received a total of 168 out of 182 votes deposited.
Nominated by China, Qu was the only candidate to FAO’s top position. His new term will run from 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2027.
The election took place on the second day of the FAO Conference (1-7 July).
Since being elected FAO Director-General for the first time in 2019, Qu has championed a wide range of reforms and initiatives to overhaul the Organisation’s business model, improving efficiency and implementing best practices that support programme and administrative effectiveness.
Qu has strongly advocated for the transformation of agrifood systems to make them more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable, with the ultimate goal of helping Members achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and promote the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.
