Bilateral meeting with Mr Osamu Kubota, Deputy Assistant Minister, Export and International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan

Bangkok – The FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met with Mr Osamu Kubota, Deputy Assistant Minister, Export and International Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Japan in Bangkok on the margins of the International Soil and Water Forum. 

The Director-General thanked the Deputy Assistant Minister for his participation in the Forum and expressed his gratitude to Japan for the longstanding partnership and support to the work of FAO. The Director-General acknowledged the rich knowledge and experiences of Japan in relation to enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture in harmony with the environment, and invited the country to share its knowledge with other countries.

The Deputy Assistant Minister thanked the Director-General for the invitation to the Forum and highlighted the Ministry’s Strategy for Sustainable Food Systems, which aimed to improve agricultural productivity and sustainability, including by harnessing innovations and new technologies, changing behaviours among stakeholders and reducing the environmental burdens of agrifood systems. The Deputy Assistant Minister also emphasized that Japan was not only aiming to promote collaboration and sharing its experiences with South East Asian countries, but was also expanding its support to others in the region and in Africa.

The Director-General appreciated Japan’s efforts and encouraged the Country to renew and strengthen its contribution to supporting the Global South in transforming to sustainable and inclusive agrifood systems. QU also expressed FAO’s readiness to facilitate exchanges and the provision of technical support that promote innovation, research and new technologies for sustainable agricultural systems.

The Director-General also emphasized the importance of underscoring these exchanges with the mobilization of financial resources to benefit sustainable agriculture in Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs). The Director-General looked forward to deepening the collaboration between Japan and FAO to achieve the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life – leaving no one behind.