The Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chin-wan, attended the 7th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting today (August 26) via video conferencing to discuss and exchange views with leaders of other economies on the implementation plan for the Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030.

     The meetings of APEC 2022 are being held in Thailand this year. Affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, some of the meetings are taking place virtually this year. The main discussion topics of the Food Security Ministerial Meeting this year include how APEC economies are taking forward the implementation plan for the Food Security Roadmap Towards 2030 to combat threats to global food security, and how member economies achieve the objectives of food security through regional co-operation.

     During the discussion among ministers, Mr Tse said, "The meeting offers us a valued opportunity to connect and to fortify our economic region in support of food security."

     Mr Tse remarked that Hong Kong, China strongly supports the notion of advancing food safety and food production through digital technology, which effectively compresses the time for cross-border movement of perishable food, thereby reducing food losses and food waste to achieve the target of carbon neutrality, as well as enhancing food traceability and communication with the trade.

     Mr Tse added, "We fully support the continued pursuance of measures to strengthen the development of an open, transparent, productive, sustainable and resilient food system, hand in hand with other APEC economies."

     After the meeting, the Chair released the statement that summarised the exchange of views by APEC Ministers Responsible for Food Security, and set forth the way forward in fostering active engagement of public-private partnership in pursuing synergy and co-operation on food security in the APEC region.

Ends/Friday, August 26, 2022
Issued at HKT 16:13

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