Calls for a new world agricultural order

Bangkok – From tomorrow to 31 March, FAO Director-General Jacques Diouf will visit Bangkok, meet with Thailand's leaders, and attend the 29th session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific. FAO insists that "a new system of governance of world food security must be established" following the failure of the current system.

As guest of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Dr Diouf will have an audience with HM the King of Thailand, meet with the Thai prime minister and foreign affairs minister, and call on other Thai political leaders.

The FAO chief has repeatedly appealed to the international community to put greater action behind their promises to fight hunger by designing a new agricultural order and mobilizing at least $30 billion per year to invest in rural infrastructure and boost agricultural production and productivity in developing countries.

The ongoing global financial and economic crises could drive more people into hunger and poverty unless urgent decisions are made and bold measures and targeted actions are undertaken.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajijiva will address ministers and other heads of delegations of 43 invited Asia-Pacific countries at the FAO conference on Monday 30 March at 09:00 hours.

Dr Diouf will deliver the FAO statement later that same morning, followed by a press conference at 11:30 hours.

Greater coherence is needed in the global governance of world food security as well as improved policies and structural aspects of the international agricultural system by putting forward lasting political, financial and technical solutions to the problem of food insecurity in the world, FAO said.

Journalists and news organization are invited to attend the ministerial opening of the FAO conference at the United Nations Conference Centre.

More information at:
http://www.fao.org/world/regional/rap/conference_29th_APRC_News_room.asp