In a world in permanent changes, food security is the cornerstone of peace and development, an essential foundation for building a community of the future shared for humanity.
In this context, China has deepened its partnerships with the countries of the Global South for World Governance of Food Security. (The South Global refers to nations considered to have a relatively low level of economic and industrial development, which are generally located in the south of the more industrialized nations – editor’s note).
By progressing the Initiative for World Development (IDM), proposed by the Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2021 and which calls for guiding global development to a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth, and to promote cooperation, China plays an essential role in collective efforts to ensure global food security.
A stabilizer in an unstable world
In recent years, global food security has faced challenges, in particular with commercial conflicts and disturbances in supply chains. The global market for agricultural products becomes more unstable, with greater risks.
Currently, a limited number of countries produce and export the majority of foods worldwide, while many others depend on imports to meet their needs. This dependence creates an imbalance, making global food supply vulnerable to geopolitical tensions and increasing food insecurity.
Conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, as well as between Israel and Gaza, have seriously disrupted the global food supply chains. A wave of food protectionism has emerged and the nations are increasingly using food for political purposes.
While the political foundations of international cooperation for food security are expanding, global food insecurity is worsening. According to the UN report, the state of food security and nutrition in the world 2024, the situation has regressed 15 years, the level of undernourishment being now comparable to those observed in 2008-2009.
Since its membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, China is actively participating in agricultural negotiations to reform unfair commercial practices. The country firmly supports a multilateral trading system focused on the WTO and organizes numerous exposures and international agricultural trade fairs each year. China is now one of the countries whose customs duties on agricultural products are the lowest, contributing to the stabilization of global food markets and the strengthening of agricultural supply chains.
In addition, China pleads in favor of reforms of the global food security governance system and strengthens the role of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in this area. The country has increased its contributions to FAO and supports its collaboration with the G20 and other international institutions to launch and implement food security programs and initiatives.
In collaboration with the United Nations, China has created a global humanitarian deposit and a hub of humanitarian response, as well as a global food program center, aimed at encouraging agricultural cooperation projects with developing countries.
Since December 1, 2024, China has applied customs duties to the least advanced countries that have established diplomatic relations with it, including 33 African countries. This policy should facilitate access to these countries to Chinese markets and improve their food security.
Ensure the modernization of agriculture
Food security remains an urgent challenge for many countries of the Global South. With a large agricultural population and economies strongly dependent on agriculture, these countries are among the most vulnerable. According to the aforementioned report, around 733 million people have suffered from the world’s hunger in 2023, the vast majority residing in the countries of the Global South.
As a leading member, China collaborates with many countries of the Global South to modernize their agriculture and increase food production in order to strengthen global food security.
China pleads in favor of development -focused programs within multilateral institutions to support inclusive and sustainable global growth. In particular, at the G20 summit in Hangzhou (China) in 2016, China placed the development of the G20 macroeconomic policies for the first time. The summit then adopted the G20 action plan for the implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, and the G20 initiative on industrialization support in Africa and in the least advanced countries.
During the 19th G20 summit held in Rio de Janeiro last November, China called for the construction of a world just for common development, in which priority is granted to the fight against hunger and the poverty. The country has also decided to join the World Alliance against Hunger and Poverty, aimed at redoubled efforts to achieve the United Nations sustainable development objectives.
During the United Nations General Assembly in 2021, China presented the IDM, which acts as a catalyst for major partnerships in the world. In collaboration with the United Nations, China has launched a list of 50 cooperation projects within the framework of IDM in food security, poverty reduction and industrialization.
China’s commitment to cooperation with Africa is obvious. As a major partner in the continent’s efforts to guarantee food supply, China has unveiled the Assistance Program for the Modernization of African Agriculture during the dialogue of Chinese and African leaders held in South Africa In 2023. At the 2024 summit of the Sino-African cooperation forum in Beijing, China presented the partnership action for agriculture for the benefit of the population, with a series of targeted measures.
Chinese efforts in favor of agricultural cooperation extend beyond Africa, until Eurasia. China created in 2019 the basis of demonstration and exchanges of agricultural technologies of the Shanghai cooperation organization. By establishing partnerships with more than 60 countries, China has shared advanced agricultural technologies, introduces new varieties of crops and promoted innovative agricultural practices.
As part of the collaboration with the Arab countries through the Arabian China-States Cooperation Forum, eight cooperation initiatives have been launched, one of them about agriculture. It includes the construction of five common laboratories of modern agriculture, the implementation of 50 cooperation demonstration projects in agricultural technologies and the sending of 500 agricultural experts to support agricultural innovation in Arab countries.
Cooperation between China and the community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Ceuc) has continued to strengthen. China has established bilateral cooperation mechanisms with 19 Ceuc countries. During the 3rd China-Celac Forum for the Ministers of Agriculture in 2024, two historic agreements were announced: the China-Celac ministerial consensus in priority agricultural fields and the Chine-Celac agricultural cooperation. These strategic executives define clear orientations for future collaboration in sustainable agricultural development and technology transfer.
Thanks to a constant collaboration, innovation and mutual support, China and its partners open the way to a future where food security and sustainable development are within everyone’s reach.
*Zhang Jiaolong is a deputy researcher in the Department of International and Strategic Studies of the Chinese Institute of International Studies.
