5th World Shiology Forum

Excellencies,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good morning. 

It is a great honour to join you at the 5th World Shiology Forum. Let me begin by extending my sincere appreciation to Director-General Liu Guangwei and the organizing committee for convening this timely forum under the theme: “A Holistic Approach to Addressing Food System Challenges through Shiology.” My gratitude also goes to the Government of Hainan Province for hosting us in this remarkable setting—a place where ecological civilization and sustainable living are not abstract aspirations, but living realities.

We gather at a pivotal moment for humanity’s shared future. After decades of progress, global hunger is once again on the rise. More than 735 million people go to bed hungry each night, while 2.4 billion experience food insecurity. At the same time, 2.5 billion adults are overweight or obese. These paradoxes reveal a painful truth: our food systems are failing to nourish people, and, in the process, they are also harming the planet.

Food systems today account for one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions, consume 70 percent of freshwater resources, and are among the primary drivers of biodiversity loss and land degradation. As the UN Secretary-General António Guterres has reminded us, “We must transform food systems urgently to make them more sustainable, equitable and resilient.” 

With just five years remaining until 2030, his words carry renewed urgency. We cannot achieve the Sustainable Development Goals without reimagining how we produce, distribute, and consume food.

This is precisely where the philosophy of Shiology offers a path forward. Shiology views food not merely as sustenance, but as the nexus of health, culture, ecology, and social well-being. It reminds us that every meal connects us to nature, to communities and to future generations.

In its essence, Shiology echoes the United Nations’ own systems approach: recognizing that challenges cannot be solved in isolation. Food security, climate action, health, gender equality, and sustainable consumption are all interdependent. Shiology therefore calls for integration rather than fragmentation, harmony rather than extraction, and a recognition that what nourishes the body must also sustain the planet.

China’s experience offers powerful lessons for the world. In just four decades, it has lifted over 800 million people out of poverty and achieved dramatic improvements in food security. Guided by the vision of ecological civilization and a commitment to green and digital transformation, China is pioneering climate-smart agriculture, precision farming, and the preservation of agricultural heritage systems.

Through initiatives such as the Global Development Initiative and the China-FAO South-South Cooperation programme, China is also sharing knowledge and innovation with countries around the world – supporting them to build resilient food systems across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. This spirit of partnership is central to the multilateralism that underpins the Pact for the Future and our collective commitment to leave no one behind.

As we reflect on the theme of this Forum, allow me to highlight four priorities that can guide our collective action: 

1. Confront the climate-food nexus. 

Climate change is both a driver and a victim of food insecurity. We must transition toward climate-resilient, low-emission agriculture, while ensuring smallholders – the backbone of global food production – have the resources and technology to adapt and prosper.

2. Protect and revitalize food heritage

Traditional knowledge – from China’s rice-fish systems to the Andean terraces – embodies centuries of wisdom. Preserving and adapting these systems is not nostalgia; it is innovation rooted in resilience.

3. Advance food literacy and education

Transformation begins with awareness. From school curricula to consumer choices, education can reshape how societies value food, nutrition, and the environment.

4. Foster inclusive innovation

Technology must empower, not exclude. Digital tools, biotechnology, and sustainable finance must reach women, youth, and marginalized farmers: those most vital to, yet most often left behind in, the transformation journey.

Excellencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

This Forum marks the first release of the Global Food Systems and SDGs Report – a timely contribution as we implement the Pact for the Future, reinvigorate Our Common Agenda, and prepare for COP30. I encourage all participants to engage deeply with its findings and turn them into concrete policies and partnerships at local, national, and global levels.

Transforming food systems is not the task of one nation or institution—it is a collective responsibility. Governments, the private sector, academia, civil society, and the United Nations must work in synergy. Here in China, I have witnessed inspiring examples: from community-based farming initiatives and digital agriculture pilots to national campaigns reducing food waste and promoting diverse, healthy diets. 

The United Nations stands ready to continue supporting these efforts – linking local innovation with global frameworks, and connecting people, planet, and prosperity through partnership.

As you embark on your discussions, I invite you to think boldly and collaboratively. Let this Forum not only exchange ideas, but inspire action. Let it affirm our shared belief that food is not just a commodity; it is a covenant with the Earth and with each other.

Together, we can build food systems that nourish everyone, regenerate ecosystems, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Thank you.