BEIJING, Nov. 12 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a written speech at the International Forum on Hybrid Rice Assistance and Global Food Security, which was held Saturday in Beijing.

In his speech, Xi noted that food security is fundamental to human survival. Half a century ago, hybrid rice was first successfully developed and planted widely in China. Thanks to this technology, China has managed to feed nearly 20 percent of the world's population with less than 9 percent of the world's arable land, and has become the largest food producer and the third largest food exporter in the world.

From 1979, hybrid rice began to be introduced to the world, benefitting nearly 70 countries across five continents. This has been a remarkable contribution to their grain output increase and agricultural development, and offered a Chinese solution to food shortages in developing countries, Xi said.

At present, global food security faces severe challenges and complexities. China will continue to work with all countries in a spirit of solidarity and shared future to advance the Global Development Initiative, scale up cooperation on food security and poverty reduction, and make a greater contribution to the speedy implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to building a world free from hunger and poverty, said the Chinese president.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the forum, where he read out the written message of Xi.

Wang said the recently-concluded 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China declared that China will make new contributions to human development with Chinese modernization and provide new opportunities for the world with China's new development.

Hybrid rice technology is a monument in the history of agricultural science and technology in China, which not only helps China achieve the miracle of food self-sufficiency, but also makes an important contribution to solving the global food shortage, Wang noted.

China has made food security one of the priority areas in implementing the Global Development Initiative, Wang said, adding that China is willing to make joint efforts with other countries and international organizations to make new and greater contributions to safeguarding world food security and achieving the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The forum was co-hosted by the China International Development Cooperation Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration.

(Source: Xinhua)