(Photo: WFP)

Shanghai (People’s Daily) – China on Friday shipped tons of rice to Somalia, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo to help address food security challenges.

These donations are part of China’s overall food assistance this year, which also covers the Republic of Congo and Lesotho.

The five countries are facing a range of issues that can impact food security, including armed conflict, climate-related disasters and sluggish economies. The assistance will mainly support displaced people and refugees, many of whom are women and children.

The rice was shipped by the World Food Programme (WFP). A departure ceremony was organized by the WFP China Office on Friday at a port in Shanghai, eastern China.

“China’s support enables us to expand our work and to reach more people in urgent need of food assistance,” Qu Sixi, representative of WFP China Office, said during the ceremony. “We hope to further strengthen our partnership with China and make joint efforts towards achieving zero hunger.”

Jama Mire, charge d’affaires of Somali Embassy to China, said at the ceremony, “We are very grateful for China's support for this food donation to Somalia and our other African brothers.”

(Photo: WFP)

China’s contributions have enabled the WFP to obtain more than 8,700 tons of rice from China and other nations globally that will benefit approximately 300,000 vulnerable people in these African countries, according to the WFP.

“When African’s need is highest, the help from China will always be timely. It is in line with the principle of sincerity, real results and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests,” said Tian Lin, director general of the Department of International Cooperation, China International Development Cooperation Agency.

“It is a follow-up action of the 2018 Beijing Summit of China-Africa Cooperation, aiming to help Africa to realize food security and sustainable development, and build a community with a shared future for China and Africa,” Tian said.

“This assistance brings hope and relief to developing countries suffering from natural disasters and conflicts,” said Wang Yu, deputy director general of the Department of Outbound Investment and Economic Cooperation of the Ministry of Commerce. “So I think today’s departure of Chinese food assistance from Shanghai is a very good example of China’s efforts to promote the shared future of mankind.”