A celebration of World Soil Day was held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in a hybrid modality on Dec. 5, 2022. Ambassador Guang Defu, Permanent Representative of China to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture, was invited to the event and delivered remarks.   

Ambassador Guang began with congratulating the FAO on the successful hosting of the World Soil Day celebration event. He pointed out that soil is the foundation of human survival and development, hence, to take care of soil is to take care of us human beings. The Chinese government has attached great importance to the conservation and utilization of soil, especially arable lands. In recent years, China has put particular emphasis on arable lands, which serve as the key to agricultural production. 

To improve the conservation and use of arable lands, efforts have been put in from the following perspectives: First, agricultural infrastructure has been improved. China aims to develop 1 billion mu (66.7 million hectares) of high-standard farmland with stable yields regardless of growing conditions by the end of 2022. Second, soil conservation has been strengthened. China has established the most stringent conservation system for arable lands to ensure their quantitity. Third, existing lands have been mapped. In early 2022, China started the 3rd national soil survey, which will help the country better grasp the conditions of arable lands nationwide.  

In his closing remark, Ambassador Guang stated that the FAO, as the most important international intergovernmental organization in global food and agriculture, plays a critical and leading role in areas such as promoting the sustainable use of soil resources and establishing long-term global mechanisms for cooperation and research regarding soil health, conservation and utilization. China stands ready to work with the FAO and its members to further enhance international cooperation and experience exchanges, so as to better conserve and use soil.    

In Dec. 2013, the UN General Assembly designated Dec. 5 as World Soil Day. To commemorate this important international day, the FAO has celebrated it every year since 2014. FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu, Deputy Director-General Maria Semedo, the EU Commissioner for Agriculture, as well as Permanent Representatives of Russia, Thailand, South Korea and other countries to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture participated in the event.