Bilateral meeting with the Vice President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, H.E. David Choquehuanca Céspedes

La Paz, Bolivia - During his visit to Bolivia, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu met with His Excellency David Choquehuanca, Vice President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, during which they discussed the current food security situation in the country and areas for further collaboration between FAO and Bolivia.

The Vice-President emphasized the importance of camelids, especially alpacas and llamas, for food security, nutrition, and economic growth, particularly among Indigenous Peoples and local communities. He also highlighted the importance of quinoa, potato, and maize for Bolivia.

The Director-General recognized Bolivia's role in launching the International Year of the Camelids and the importance of Lake Titicaca for the country.

The Director-General invited the Vice President to support efforts to build a global museum network dedicated to preserving traditional farming, food, housing, and cooking for future generations.

The Vice President informed of his support for traditional medicine and informed the Director-General that Bolivia was scientifically advocating for the reclassification of the coca leaf from list 1 of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB).

The Director-General and the Vice President reiterated their collective will to strengthen the partnership between the Organization and Bolivia and reaffirmed their commitment to work together towards common objectives, including the successful outcome of the International Year of Camelids 2024.