It is a privilege for Nepal to host the 26th FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Kathmandu. We are also happy that this meeting is taking place just before the “World Food Summit: five years later” to be held in Rome next month. It is, therefore, a pleasure for me to inaugurate this august gathering of distinguished personalities from the Asia Pacific region and to extend a warm welcome to you all in Nepal. I hope that all of you will have a pleasant and comfortable stay in Kathmandu.
The Regional Conference has important agenda before it. Raising the level of nutrition, the standard of living of the people and agricultural productivity has become vital now more than ever before. It is more so for this region, as it houses the majority of world's hungry people. The fundamental objectives of FAO, set out at its inception some fifty years ago, remain as valid today as before. We must appreciate the collective efforts made by the international community and the salutary initiatives of FAO to reduce the number of hungry people in the world. But, we are saddened to learn that about 800 million people still go hungry around the world as we step into the twenty-first century. We should redouble our efforts and strengthen our resolve to ensure that all the people have access to adequate and safer food. At a time when the global war against terrorism continues, the need to wage yet another important war on poverty and hunger is no less urgent. The world community must recommit itself in all seriousness to get rid of hunger from the world. Despite the astounding progress and advancement mankind has been able to make over the centuries, it is shocking that we are not able to feed ourselves. This is all the more shocking when we know that we have sufficient food to feed them all. It pricks our conscience. I am sure that the deliberations here would also delve deeper into these fundamental issues.
Discussions on a host of issues relating to food security, alleviation of rural poverty, empowerment of the rural poor and sustainable mountain development in Asia and the Pacific, will add further significance to this meeting. These are important issues in this region, which has the largest concentration of the poor and hungry people. Upliftment of their quality of life is certain to change the face of the region as a whole. As a mountainous country, we are happy to note that sustainable mountain development will also receive special focus. It is a matter of satisfaction to celebrate the International Year of Mountains. We are starkly aware how mountains provide livelihood, biodiversity, a beautiful landscape and a sturdy culture, yet, their fragility demands utmost care and sustainable use. Our efforts should be directed towards finding a fine balance between them.
We have all committed ourselves to achieving food security for all and to reducing by half the number of undernourished people by 2015. While some countries in the region have made considerable progress, many have not been able to make much headway for various internal and external reasons. This is a worthy goal, which we should pursue together in earnest. There is a need for strengthening capacity within the countries with clear and firm solidarity and support from the international community. Ensuring equitable benefits of globalisation and early fulfilment of the commitment made by the developed countries to provide development assistance to the developing countries will go a long way towards ensuring food security for all and alleviating the burden of deprivation.
I would also like to take this opportunity to commend Dr. Jacques Diouf, for the vision and strong leadership that he has provided in confronting the world's food insecurity problems. I recall with pleasure that Nepal was among the first three countries in the region to be included in the Special Programme for food security. The leading efforts of FAO to organize a global coalition against hunger and to mobilise the political will and resources in support of the World Food Summit goals deserve our sincere appreciation.
Secure supplies and access to safe and nutritious food by all is a national priority for Nepal. Food is basic to survival and the right to food is indeed a fundamental human right. His Majesty's Government is committed to the objectives of the World Food Summit and its Plan of Action. Food security also signifies a better livelihood for rural people and sustainable management of natural resources. Secure food also means alleviation of poverty and hunger. Enhancement of agricultural productivity and its proper distribution are crucial in our fight against hunger.
There is no doubt that economic injustice and other forms of deprivations also have their origin in poverty. And hunger is the extreme manifestation of poverty. I believe that the eradication of hunger is essential to attaining food security as well as enlarging the opportunities and choices in life for the poor people. It is with this conviction that, at the 11th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in Kathmandu, the Member States expressed their firm resolve to combat the problem of poverty with a new sense of urgency. They have also given high priority to the development of the agriculture sector and early attainment of food security for the people in South Asia along the lines of the World Food Summit and the Millennium Development Goals. As the current Chair of SAARC, Nepal is committed to seeing that these goals are translated into reality.
With these few words, I declare this conference open and wish a lively and productive deliberations on all the important issues in the next two days.
Thank you.
