Remarks by CIDCA chairman at the Forum on the 20th Anniversary of Juncao Assistance and Sustainable Development Cooperation

Address at the Forum on the 20th Anniversary of Juncao Assistance and Sustainable Development Cooperation 

Remarks by Luo Zhaohui

Chairman of the China International Development Cooperation Agency of

The People's Republic of China

(Time: 11:00 am on 2 September 2021

Venue: Fangfei Villa, Diaoyutai State Guesthouse)

Your Excellency State Councilor Wang Yi,

Your Excellency Vice Governor of Fujian Province Guo Ningning,

Diplomatic Envoys,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning. As September brings golden hues to the city, we are gathered here on this lovely day of early autumn for the Forum on the 20th Anniversary of Juncao Assistance and Sustainable Development Cooperation, which is co-hosted by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and the People's Government of Fujian Province. First of all, on behalf of CIDCA, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to you all.

The subject of this Forum is Juncao, which I believe is something both familiar and unfamiliar to most people. We may be familiar with its benefits, but not with the many stories behind it.

Twenty years ago, President Xi Jinping, then Governor of Fujian Province, made important instructions on and personally worked for the introduction of Juncao technology to Papua New Guinea under an official aid project. Since then, along with the love and goodwill of the Chinese people, Juncao has made its way across the world, from South Pacific to Africa, from South Asia to Latin America, and to the United Nations, bringing benefits to humankind. Thanks to the continuing commitment of President Xi Jinping, the technology has helped, over the past 20 years, alleviate poverty, protect the environment, promote sustainable development, and bring wealth and hope to people of many countries. Just like hybrid rice, Juncao technology has become a shining example of China's foreign aid for global poverty alleviation and has been warmly received in many countries. A senior cabinet minister of Papua New Guinea named his daughter "Juncao", and the people in Lesotho have written folk songs about Juncao, to give a few examples.

Thirty-five years ago, after years of tireless exploration and experimentation, Lin Zhanxi, a professor in China's Fujian Province, successfully turned a certain type of grass that used to grow wildly in mountains into a precious plant that has benefited many people. The high-yield, low-cost Juncao grass is resistant to drought, wind and sand and can retain water and soil. It has contributed immensely to the poverty reduction endeavors of both the Chinese and the people in recipient countries of the technology. Today, we are honored to have with us Professor Lin, the inventor of Juncao technology. Let us salute him with a warm round of applause.

Dear Friends,

Let me take this opportunity to thank the People's Government of Fujian Province, the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and other government agencies for your strong support. Without our joint and sustained efforts, Juncao technology would not be able to become known worldwide and make great contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind and to the realization of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

I would also like to thank the relevant friendly countries and UN agencies as well as the diplomatic envoys and representatives present today. Without your kind involvement and cooperation, the technology would not demonstrate such strong vitality.

On a special note, I would like to thank State Councilor Wang Yi for making time out of his tight schedule to attend our event and deliver a keynote speech. Now, let us welcome State Councilor Wang with a big round of applause.