The 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly held a special high-level meeting on the theme of "taking joint action now: coordinating responses to the global food crisis". Zhang Jun, the permanent representative of China to the United Nations, attended the meeting and delivered a speech on behalf of the group of friends of the global development initiative, explaining the common position of the group members on food security. This year, China initiated the establishment of the group of friends of the global development initiative at the United Nations headquarters in New York. At present, 60 countries have joined the group to jointly promote the strengthening of international cooperation, the implementation of the United Nations 2030 agenda for sustainable development, and addressing global challenges. This speech is the first joint speech since the establishment of the group, marking an important step in the implementation of the initiative and group cooperation. Zhang Jun said that the COVID-19 has devoured the development achievements of various countries, the world economic recovery is difficult to differentiate, and climate change and global supply chain disruption have triggered fluctuations in the price of food and agriculture products. The implementation of the 2030 agenda for sustainable development faces serious challenges. The global food crisis and other multiple challenges have seriously weakened the response capacity of developing countries, especially small island developing countries, least developed countries, landlocked developing countries and African countries. The international community must take joint action immediately, not only to jointly respond to the short-term food crisis, but also to strengthen long-term cooperation in the field of global food and agriculture. He pointed out that first of all, we should provide emergency support to countries affected by the food crisis, especially developing countries, coordinate actions in the areas of food production, storage and transportation, food conservation and loss reduction, increase investment, and enhance self-sufficiency, and strengthen partnerships between countries and relevant stakeholders. Secondly, we should urge developed countries and other parties to strengthen cooperation, focus on the transformation of the food and agriculture system, strengthen support for farmers' scientific and technological innovation and capacity-building, help them increase employment, eradicate poverty, strengthen the sustainable use and protection of food and agriculture, and protect the ecological environment. Third, we should maintain the effective operation of the global food and agriculture supply chain, ensure the smooth trade and market opening of agricultural products such as grain, fuel and fertilizer, safeguard the multilateral trading system, and eliminate unilateralism and protectionist measures that violate the spirit and rules of the WTO. Zhang Jun said that the group of friends of the global development initiative will spare no effort to cooperate with countries to implement the 2030 agenda for sustainable development and ensure that no country or person will be left behind. More countries are welcome to join the group of friends of the initiative. (Xinhua News Agency)