Editor's note: CGTN's First Voice provides instant commentary on breaking stories. The column clarifies emerging issues and better defines the news agenda, offering a Chinese perspective on the latest global events.

The livelihoods and production of smallholder farmers and rural communities are deeply dependent on climate, making them among the least equipped to cope with climate change. In an exclusive interview with CGTN, Donal Brown, associate vice-president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), says China has seen significant progress in the use of solar technology, the construction of climate-resilient infrastructure, and the development of digital services and AI innovation in agriculture. It offers an important reference point for other developing countries.