The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) held the unveiling ceremony of the 2023 World Food Day global event and the opening ceremony of the third World Food Forum in Rome, Italy on the 16th, focusing on strengthening sustainable water resource management, promoting the transformation of agricultural and food systems, accelerating climate action, and jointly building a "zero hunger" world. The theme of World Food Day 2023 is "Water is the source of life, water is the foundation of food, no one should be left behind", focusing on the water shortage problem that troubles 2.4 billion people, as well as the impact of pollution, ecosystem degradation, and climate change on 600 million people who rely on aquatic food systems. In the opening speech of the World Food Day global event held on the morning of the 16th, Qu Dongyu, the Director General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, said that the theme of this year's World Food Day elucidates the important connection between water and food, aiming to emphasize that the lifeline of food production lies in water conservancy. Without ensuring the security of water resources, food security cannot be discussed. Qu Dongyu pointed out that rapid population growth, rapid urbanization and industrialization, economic development, and climate crisis are causing enormous pressure on the global water resource base. At the same time, increasingly frequent natural disasters such as floods and droughts are further impacting the global agricultural and food system. He called on all sectors to accelerate action to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. UN Secretary General Guterres said in a video speech that World Food Day 2023 coincides with the global food crisis, and the world is moving backwards in eradicating hunger and malnutrition. Sustainable management of water resources, promoting agriculture and food production, is crucial for eradicating hunger and achieving sustainable development goals. He called on governments, the private sector, civil society, and academia to work together to eliminate hunger and solve the global food crisis. Italian President Matarella, Irish President Higgins, and World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain attended the unveiling ceremony of the World Food Day global event. On the afternoon of the 16th, the third 5-day World Food Forum opened at the FAO headquarters in Rome. The theme of this forum is "Promoting Climate Action through Agricultural and Food System Transformation", which is held in a combination of online and offline activities. The main activities include the Global Youth Forum, the FAO Science and Innovation Forum, and the FAO "Hand in Hand" Investment Forum. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization, this year's World Food Forum will attract nearly 10000 people to participate, and will hold rich educational and cultural activities, exhibitions, and side events. (New News Agency)