New York, 29 October – In its first visit to the United Nations New York headquarters, the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) joined with the Chinese Permanent Mission to the United Nations and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to launch results of China’s partnership with Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique on agriculture development.

With both African countries working to expand agriculture production -- a challenge heightened by climate change -- the two programmes linked local farmers and officials with Chinese knowledge, technology, and market-inclusive systems to boost food production.

The report launched today assesses the two partnerships -- the Agricultural Technical Cooperation Project in Guinea-Bissau and the Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center in Mozambique -- as examples of what South-South collaboration can achieve.

“UNDP welcomes these joint assessments, which illustrate China’s commitment to partnerships that support the achievement of national development goals and the aspirations of Africa’s Agenda 2063 and 2030 Agenda. We will continue to facilitate increased South-South cooperation to help address the Global Goals’ financing gap, supporting the full national ownership of partnering African countries in the process,” said Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa.

“Expanding food production and creating new markets for agricultural entrepreneurs is helping to tackle poverty and food insecurity. We welcome the technology, expertise and financial investments of China as we work together to advance our national development plans,” said Ambassador António Gumende, Permanent Representative of the Mission of the Republic of Mozambique to the United Nations.

Speaking at the event, the Vice Chairperson of CIDCA, Mr. Deng Boqing said: “Promoting the agricultural and rural development, and poverty eradication in developing countries, especially in Africa, has always been a priority of China’s foreign aid. I believe the case studies will help to further improve and strengthen China’s foreign agricultural assistance, and also provide a useful reference for other aid providers.”

UNDP and China also showcased their partnership through a photo exhibition highlighting disaster recovery work in Antigua and Barbuda, Bangladesh, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Nepal, and Pakistan. China provided US$17 million through its South-South Cooperation Assistance Fund in 2017 to aid recovery and reconstruction efforts in the five countries, reaching more than 600,000 affected people.

CIDCA was established in April 2018 to strengthen strategic planning, policy guidance and the overall coordination of China’s international development cooperation. CIDCA and UNDP are now expanding their partnership through South-South cooperation projects that introduce Chinese expertise, technologies and resources to developing countries and design tailored solutions to meet the Sustainable Development Goals.

For more information, please contact:

New York: Lesley Wright, UNDP Communications Consultant

+1 646-920-1972, lesley.wright@undp.org

Beijing: Zhang Wei, UNDP China Chief Communications Officer

+8610 85320715, wei.zhang@undp.org