Opening Remarks by Mr James George at the Innovation and Sustainable Solutions in Enhancing Food Security and Rural Livelihoods Sub-forum at the 2024 Tremella Industry Development Conference

December 6, 2024

a man holding a sign — UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in China, James George, delivered opening remarks for the sub-forum on Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Enhancing Food Security and Rural Livelihoods at the 2024 Tremella Industry Development Conference in Gutian, China.

Distinguished guests, colleagues, and friends,

Good afternoon.

On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme in China, I am delighted to welcome you all to the sub-forum on Innovative and Sustainable Solutions in Enhancing Food Security and Rural Livelihoods, held as part of the Tremella Industry Development Conference 2024 here in Gutian County.

At the heart of today’s discussions lies an urgent and shared mission: to address the challenges of food security and rural development.

This agenda is not only fundamental to human dignity but also critical pillars of the Sustainable Development Goals - our global development blueprint to safeguard people and planet by 2030.

As we gather here today, we recognize the tremendous potential of rural communities to drive sustainable development and I welcome your participation and active engagement.

As all of us are aware, to unlock the full potential of local communities, it is critical that we empower and support them with the tools, technologies, financing and partnerships they need to thrive.

We will also need to stand shoulder to shoulder with them to fully harness their knowledge, insights and deep wisdom as we design new innovative approaches to address long standing development challenges and issues.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Food security and sustainable livelihoods are deeply connected. Globally, rural areas are home to nearly 80% of those living in extreme poverty, with agriculture as a primary source of income.

In China, poverty reduction efforts have lifted over 770 million people from poverty since the 1980s, showcasing transformative progress.

This has been a remarkable achievement and with many lessons learn for various regions in China and globally.

Over the past four decades, UNDP has worked closely with the China International Centre for Economic and Technical Exchanges (CICETE) to drive progress towards China’s rural sustainable development journey.

Gutian, with its unique strengths and innovative path, is a vivid example of this progress.

Our collaboration with Gutian began in 2016 with the Rural Finance Innovation Project, which established the Minfu Center.

It has boosted local farmers’ revenue by nearly 200 million yuan with 50 million mushroom tubes produced annually.

"The newly launched three-year project focuses on advancing sustainable, green, and inclusive rural livelihoods in China. It is a testament of our shared commitment to jointly create new development models that are co-designed with local communities and key stakeholders to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and national development priorities and ensuring we leave no one behind."

In 2022, Gutian was selected as a pilot site for the Leveraging Sustainable Finance, Accelerating Rural Revitalization Project, aimed at promoting green transition and high-quality industry development.

For example, through this initiative, within less than a year, the Digital Brain platform have enabled local financial institutions to issue 234 million yuan in credit loans to beneficiaries, including MSMEs, women-owned businesses, and smallholder farmers. Today, this sub-forum marks the third phase in our partnership with the Government of Gutian.

The newly launched three-year project focuses on advancing sustainable, green, and inclusive rural livelihoods in China. It is a testament of our shared commitment to jointly create new development models that are co-designed with local communities and key stakeholders to accelerate progress towards the SDGs and national development priorities and ensuring we leave no one behind.

The agenda of rural revitalization and dual carbon goals towards building a beautiful China are all interlinked and with synergies to be designed and implemented and this initiative will seek to provide insights and new lessons and models that can be adopted more broadly across China.

The subforum serves as a platform to exchange innovative ideas, share best practices, and explore tangible solutions that can mitigate climate change, while ensuring food security and rural livelihoods.

Together, we can chart pathways for empowering rural communities, enhancing agricultural productivity, and strengthening ecosystem resilience.

In closing, I would like to thank all the organizers, partners, and participants who have made this event possible. Your dedication and commitment is highly commended!

Let’s seize this opportunity to exchange ideas, foster collaborations, and drive forward solutions that will have a lasting impact.

I look forward to the productive discussions that lie ahead.

Thank you.