Qu Dongyu becomes first Chinese to head UN food agency FAO

Qu Dongyu on Sunday became the first Chinese national to be elected to head the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation, clinching the post in the first round of voting.

Qu, 55, a biologist by training, won 108 votes, followed byCatherine Geslain-Laneelle of France with 71 votes and Georgia’s DavitKirvalidze with 12, according to official results.

   

“I’m very grateful to all member countries for youractive participation,” the new FAO chief said after the results wereannounced. “Thanks also to other candidates who helped make me better.”I will be committed to FAO’s originalaspirations, mandates and the missions of the organisation.” His electionto the helm of the Rome-based agency, which brings together 194 membercountries, comes as the fight to eradicate world hunger takes a blow fromglobal warming and wars.

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