Hunger persists as crises deepen global food insecurity: IFAD vice president

As the world marks the World Food Day, global hunger remains a pressing challenge, driven by climate change and conflicts, according to Gerardine Mukeshimana, vice president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) on Thursday.

Drawing on its experience supporting community-driven innovation in 100 countries around the world, IFAD promotes affordable, adaptable and scalable innovations from the Global South.

In an interview with China Global Television Network following her participation in the World Agri-Food Innovation Conference in Beijing on Monday, Mukeshimana emphasized the dire state of global food insecurity and highlighted IFAD's efforts to combat it.

"Last year, in 2024, around 673 million people went hungry. That means one in 12 people on the planet. These numbers have gone down a little bit, but we still see extreme hunger in Africa and West Asia. The goal is to continue working on this. The role of IFAD is very important because IFAD works with rural communities and we target the poorest communities, making sure that no one is left behind," said Mukeshimana.

The third edition of the World Agri-Food Innovation Conference focused on identifying and scaling-up innovative solutions to make agrifood systems more resilient.

The Eastern Theater Command of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) announced on Wednesday that it has successfully completed "Justice Mission 2025" drills.

Through the drills, the theater command fully tested the integrated joint operations capabilities of its troops, said Li Xi, spokesperson for the theater command.

The troops of the theater command will keep strengthening combat readiness with arduous training, resolutely thwart the attempts of secessionists in Taiwan and external intervention, and firmly safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said.

The exercises, which started on Monday, involved Army, Navy, Air Force, and Rocket Force units operating in the Taiwan Strait and waters to the north, southwest, southeast, and east of Taiwan Island.