International Forum on Sci-Tech Empowering Rural Transformation

A recording of these remarks can be found on YouTube and Tencent.

Youth Leaders and Innovators,

UN Colleagues,

Ladies and Gentlemen,  

I am pleased to join you today at the International Forum on Sci-Tech Empowering Rural Transformation. Science and technology are critical catalysts for accelerating development and empowering residents in rural areas and the launch of the Annual Report and Thematic Study can provide critical examples of how we can put these innovative ideas into practice.

As UN Secretary-General António Guterres said, “Humanity depends on the boundless energy. Ideas and contributions of youth everywhere.”

In my capacity as the UN Resident Coordinator in China, I have had the opportunity to speak with and hear from many youth innovators and entrepreneurs. Today's young people stand at the nexus of innovation and entrepreneurship, holding unparalleled potential to leverage technology and empower their communities.

China's people-centred development has led to several accomplishments, including the eradication of extreme poverty. The experiences of China offer many potential lessons that can shared with other developing countries on their path towards sustainable development. Here, China's story provides a source of hope and shows us what can be achieved. 

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that much work still remains for China to realize the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There remain substantial inequalities in China, particularly between rural and urban areas, and efforts need to be made to address the many aspects of relative and multidimensional poverty that persist. AI and technology can serve as important drivers for addressing these challenges, but only if we work to ensure access in rural areas.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The collaboration between the offices of FAO, IFAD, WFP, ESCAP-CSAM in China and its partner CIIC, has resulted in this year's Annual Report on Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship. 

This report showcases inspiring stories and case studies of young innovators and entrepreneurs from China and abroad, in the fields of digital agricultural machinery, precision agriculture, linking smallholder farmers to markets, financial empowerment, and South-South Cooperation. This not only provides practical insights but also shows the path forward for sustainable agricultural development.

The report shows a commitment to fostering next-generation talents and encouraging innovation. Such efforts don't just benefit China, they potentially provide key solutions that can be replicated in other countries facing similar challenges.

However, as we navigate a rapidly evolving global landscape, our ongoing collective efforts are crucial. Whether it is the challenge of food security, the transformation of the agri-food system, or the pressing need to combat climate change, it will be the efforts of young people, their innovative strategies and their groundbreaking ventures, that will spearhead change.

Colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Driving transformation, especially in rural areas, requires more than just technology. It means ensuring that young people in every community feel heard, supported and empowered.

Let us use the unveiling of this annual report to recommit to intensifying our efforts as we enter a new phase of accelerated progress towards the SDGs.

I wish this forum and its participants every success.

Thank you.