FAO and China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) Foster Collaboration with Chinese Business Leaders

On March 17, 2025, representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC), and a delegation of Chinese entrepreneurs convened at FAO headquarters to explore future collaboration opportunities in the agricultural sector.

An ancient Chinese proverb captures the essence of the discussions: "Food is the paramount necessity of the people." This enduring principle underscores the vital role of agriculture in sustaining livelihoods and societies. Over the past few decades, global agriculture has experienced significant growth and transformation, becoming a pillar of economic development worldwide. Yet, challenges such as rapid population growth, urbanisation, and climate change have placed increasing pressure on agricultural resources, deepening inequalities and disrupting global food security. According to FAO’s 2024 Statistical Yearbook, over 700 million people faced food insecurity in 2023, an alarming increase of 152 million compared to 2019. This stark reality, emphasized by Sun Xiao, Secretary General of CCOIC, reinforces the urgent need for "strengthening international agricultural cooperation to collectively address global challenges and advance sustainable agricultural development."

In pursuit of this shared commitment, FAO and CCOIC formalized their collaboration through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2023. As China’s largest trade and investment promotion organization, CCOIC plays a key role in advancing sustainable agricultural development domestically while contributing to the resilience of global agricultural supply chains. 

The visit to FAO headquarters, organized by CCOIC, brought together 30 representatives from industries spanning technology and innovation, investment, agriculture, and environmental sustainability.

A significant outcome of this engagement was the introduction of CCOIC’s private sector members to FAO eLearning Academy, a platform offering multilingual courses designed to enhance technical expertise, policy knowledge, and best practices in sustainable agriculture. These courses align with FAO’s Thematic Areas and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), equipping stakeholders with the necessary skills to drive meaningful change in the sector.

Looking ahead, the delegation will continue to explore collaboration opportunities at the Hand-in-Hand Investment Forum, set to take place during the World Food Forum in October 2025. This flagship initiative aims to accelerate agricultural transformation by connecting investors and donors with high-priority countries and projects in need of investment.

Carlos Watson, Chief of the Private Sector Partnerships Unit (PSUS), highlighted that "The private sector plays a fundamental role in addressing challenges such as climate change, food insecurity, disaster resilience, and agricultural sustainability.". Through capacity-building, knowledge-sharing, and targeted investment, FAO and CCOIC are forging a path toward a more resilient and sustainable agricultural future, contributing to long-term food security and advancing progress toward the SDGs.