Co-hosted by the State Administration for Market Regulation of P.R.China, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the Silk-road Planning and Research Center, and the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the Belt and Road Eco-agriculture and Food Safety Forum was successfully held on November 6, 2020 at the Shanghai National Convention and Exhibition Center.
Ladies and gentle man, friends:

Good afternoon!

It is a great pleasure to meet you in the 3rd China International Import Expo (CIIE). This is also the third consecutive year that the State Administration of Market Regulation and the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries have held the Belt and Road Eco-Agriculture and Food Safety Forum since the first CIIE. On behalf of the State Administration of Market Regulation of China, I would like to extend my warmest welcome and sincere gratitude to all the guests.

Ladies and gentlemen, the Fifth Plenary Session of the nineteenth Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which was held just last month, proposed that China should open up in a high standards and explore the mutually beneficial cooperation. Make institutional innovations to support an open economy of higher standards, raise the level of opening up in an all-round way, deepen reform and innovation in trade and investment liberalization and facilitation, and pursue creative ways to grow foreign trade, advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and proactively participate in the reform of the global economic governance system

Just the day before, President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech through video at the opening ceremony of the Third China International Import Expo, stressing that China will steadfastly expand all-round opening up, and explore more efficient ways to connect domestic and foreign markets and share factors of production and resources. Turn China into a market for the world, a market shared by all, and a market accessible to all. This way, we will be able to bring more positive energy to the global community.

The forum will take openness and cooperation as a turning point to discuss and share experiences and suggestions on the topics of how the food industry support poverty alleviation, international cooperation between agriculture and food industry, the healthy development of dairy and grain industries, and suggestions on reducing food waste, jointly promote cooperation and exchange with countries along the Belt and Road in the fields of eco-agriculture and food safety.

Food safety is a key factor affecting people’s living standards. The Chinese Government attaches great importance to food safety, incorporating it into the public security system and acting the food safety national strategy. The national food safety campaign applies the "most rigorous standards" and requires the "strictest" supervision over the food sector and the "harshest" penalties and accountability for violations. The State Administration of Market Regulation has always made food safety the first priority and core function, applies the "most rigorous standards" and requires the "strictest" supervision on local government, supervision department and major food enterprises, making comprehensive use of supervision, sampling inspection, risk detection, special rectification and comprehensive law enforcement to ensure what people eat is safe.

Currently, international food trade is very flourish, the globalization industrial chain for the food and the food safety issues have quietly spread over several countries. Especially after the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic, how to strengthen cooperation in international food trade and promote the continuous positive development has become a common concern to the world. As the theme of this forum-"Food safety for all", we must take a more responsible attitude to do a good job in food safety.

First, we must promote local governments to fulfill territorial management responsibility. Food safety is important on building a well-off society and a modern socialist country in an all-round way. People’s growing needs for a better life requires higher standards of food safety. Governments at all levels must  focus on solving problems, think on the worst-case scenario, scientifically make analysis and judgment, accurate early detect and solve risks, continuously improve the ability of preventing and resolving major food safety risks, and enhance the people's sense of security and satisfaction.

Secondly, we must require the solid responsibility in the functional departments of managing the industry. The food safety chain called "from farm to fork" is not only the chain of food production and operation, but also the chain of food safety risk management, and the chain of responsibility for functional departments. We must continue to strengthen the legislation, standard and technical infrastructure for food safety, make scientific use of credit supervision, risk classification and supervision, inclusive and prudent supervision, "Internet Plus" Regulation and other models, constantly innovate the regulatory approach and improve governance ability.

Third, we must urge food companies to fulfil their responsibilities as legal subjects. The producers and business operators are the first person responsible for food safety. Enterprises must always put safety in the first priority, stressing the importance of prevention and conducting risk management, full implementation of the food safety management, risk control, inspection and testing responsibilities, and ensure the safety of foods on the market. Food companies should continue to perfect the industrial chain, enlarge the supply of high-quality products, and lift the food industry to the mid-to-high level.

Fourth, we must encourage the public to take a social supervision responsibility. Social governance is an important method to solve food safety problems. It is necessary to unleash the enthusiasm and motivation of all sectors of society to participate in food safety governance, establish a diversified public participation mechanism, and build a social construction, social governance and sharing pattern. It is necessary to further protect the public's right to know, participate and supervise, improve the credit information publicity and the mechanism for joint punitive action against bad faith, and create a market environment where "good money drives out the bad ".

Ladies and gentlemen! Food safety has entered a new stage of global governance. We wish to work hand in hand with countries along the“Belt and Road”, on the platform of CIIE to discuss on how to improve food safety governance, the supply of high-quality food, and continue to satisfy the new demand of food safety in all countries. I also hope to work with countries and related international organizations to make new contributions on creating a better future for food safety and maintaining food safety in world with a open mind!

In the end, wish this forum a complete success! Wish all guests and friends enjoyed during the CIIE!

Thank you!