Global Library of Trees and Flowers - FAO Park Remarks

Excellencies,

The Mayor of Rome,

The City Councillor for Agriculture, Environment and Waste Cycle,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear colleagues, friends, and young friends – our future,

Good morning. Buongiorno!

Welcome to the launch of the special educational experience and global library of trees and flowers the FAO Park.

A lot of people may remember that about three years ago, I initiated the G20 Green Garden – together with the Rome Municipality – and I am pleased to see the great cooperation that has developed with FAO, with the leadership of the Mayor and especially the City Councillor who are both here with us today.

I am so delighted because I am from a country with many horticultural trees, plants, flowers, ornamental plants, and biodiversity.

We always appreciate a host country, city and its citizens who plant trees. That is part of my genes, my DNA. I remember in 2016 when China had the G20 Presidency, I initiated a forest park in Xian, Shanxi Province, the capital city in ancient times of the Qin Dynasty.

So now there was a connection between Rome and Xian from Tang Dynasty!

It was the Silk Road starting point.

Today, I see Ambassadors from Central Asia and from the Near East participating – we can build a real new Silk Road together by connecting with Green Cities in China, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Jordan, and Rome.

I am pleased that leaders from the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are championing a green initiative for the Near East.

We should all share a common vision of how to make this planet greener, and more enjoyable for future generations to come.

We are lucky to have this outdoor space here in Rome’s historical Villa Pamphili. In New York, I always recall that the most valuable space is Central Park. When their ancestors started to develop New York 150 years ago, they had a European influence and so they built the biggest central park.

Mayor Gualtieri, you should use your influence to create a central park in Rome. Villa Pamphili would be the ideal place for the Central Park of Rome and Italy.

100 years in the future you would see your decision be historically commemorated by all our descendants – and FAO is willing to contribute!

Yesterday, I hosted the International Seed Association. They are willing to invite their members to contribute.

The President of Tajikistan recently brought five varieties of apricots to FAO – a national fruit for Tajikistan. He was delighted when I told him FAO was going to open this Park with the Mayor of Rome – confirmation that we are walking the talk!

When I see these young kids, in twenty years they will grow with the trees and with the flowers and come to see them grow up. This is something we offer to their generation. One day, twenty years later they will carry on and plant more trees and more flowers and make this ancient city of Roma more vivid.

A lot of FAO colleagues they just sit in the office and talk about planting trees, on the computer. I always encourage them to come to the field, come to the street among the people, to walk the talk.  It’s not necessary to plant a tree every day. But all FAO staff, young and young at heart, should plant at least one tree per year, and make a closer connection between the city and FAO.

We have 194 Members. The FAO Park could be a reference point for all the Heads of State when they come to visit FAO and Italy, we should encourage them to come here and plant a tree or donate something cultural. This should be an internationally recognized park, it’s good for your environment, good for education and good for your forests, of course, good for your life.

In Rome, you have a lot of older things to see and enjoy, but you should also create value-added new things to see. Using science and education, with biodiversity education. In China we added science education to our parks.

Thank you, honourable mayor and colleagues from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, and the Roma team. And also to my own team, especially Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina.

We should strengthen our collaboration even further. I wish to convey my appreciation to the Italian Government, and the Mayor of Rome. We are fortunate to stay here, in this green city. This is the historical linkage and bridge I would like to create between FAO and Italy, and the city of Rome.

The Chinese proverb says, “it takes ten years to plant trees, but it takes 100 years to educate young people and become real talent.”

That is part of your history and Italian culture. Italy you really deserve it. You are one of the best ancient cities still keeping civilization going. But we need to keep this going forever.

Thank you very much.