Read-out of the FAO Director-General’s meeting with H.E. Vladimir Norov, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Republic of Uzbekistan
New York – Director-General QU Dongyu met today with H.E. Vladimir Norov, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on the sidelines of the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
During the meeting the Director-General and the Minister touched on various issues of mutual interest, including water management and the sustainable use of water; the important role that science, innovation, and investments (in particular climate financing) can play in transforming agrifood systems to be more efficient, resilient, inclusive and sustainable; and FAO’s ongoing programmes in Uzbekistan.
For his part, the Minister thanked the Director-General for FAO’s ongoing technical support to Uzbekistan and that the country counted on this strong support to continue in the future. The Director-General reaffirmed FAO’s support to Uzbekistan, especially through technical assistance for the transformation of its agrifood systems to increase food security.
The Director-General also thanked the Minister for Uzbekistan’s support to the work of FAO, highlighting some of the key reforms he has emplaced in the Organization since 2019 to ensure FAO is fit-for-purpose and equipped to deliver support to all its Members. Of particular relevance to the Republic of Uzbekistan, he cited FAO’s new Office of SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs and highlighted the Organization’s systematic and structural commitment to do more and better for these countries in finding solutions to the specific challenges they face.
Increasing desertification and soil salinity, animal and plant pests and diseases, and phytosanitary measures were other areas discussed that are in need of particular attention in the context of Uzbekistan and the Central Asia region. They also touched upon the need to better integrate food production, processing, and post-harvest issues in order to enhance food security and stimulate agrifood systems transformation.
Finally, the Director-General and the Minister discussed the importance of sharing the experiences of landlocked countries in modernizing and transforming their agrifood systems, in order to support other landlocked countries worldwide in their individual efforts to enhance food security. The two also stressed the important role that South-South and Triangular Cooperation can play in supporting Members in their efforts.