Xi commends hard work of delivery workers during inspection tour in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, commended the hard work and contributions of delivery workers in Beijing on Tuesday, during a visit to a community canteen for seniors.

Xi, who was conducting a two-day inspection tour in Beijing, talked with three delivery workers who were taking a break in the canteen, asking about their work and life.

"The city couldn't function without workers like you. Your work meets the needs of countless households," Xi said, expressing his hope that they can lead good lives and work well.

Xi urged Party committees and governments at all levels to care for workers in new forms of employment and provide quality services to support their work, daily life and study.

Xi commends hard work of delivery workers during inspection tour in Beijing

Xi commends hard work of delivery workers during inspection tour in Beijing

Xi commends hard work of delivery workers during inspection tour in Beijing

Xi commends hard work of delivery workers during inspection tour in Beijing

Xi commends hard work of delivery workers during inspection tour in Beijing

Global food commodity prices climbed for a second consecutive month in March, driven mainly by higher energy costs linked to escalating conflict in the Middle East, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) said in report released on Friday.

The FAO Food Price Index, which tracks monthly changes in the international prices of a basket of globally traded food commodities, averaged 128.5 points in March, up 2.4 percent from February and 1.0 percent above its level a year ago.

According to the report, the FAO Vegetable Oil Index and Sugar Price Index showed the largest increases, up 5.1 percent and 7.2 percent, respectively.

The FAO Cereal Price Index increased by 1.5 percent from the previous month, driven primarily by higher world wheat prices, which rose 4.3 percent.

The FAO Meat Price Index rose by 1.0 percent from the previous month, and the FAO All-Rice Price Index declined by 3.0 percent in March, according to the report.

FAO stated that rising energy and fertilizer prices have been driving up agricultural input costs.

If the conflict stretches beyond 40 days, farmers will have to choose to farm the same with fewer inputs, plant less, or switch to less intensive fertilizer crops, according to FAO Chief Economist Maximo Torero.

These choices will hit future yields and shape food supply and commodity prices for the rest of this year and beyond, Torero said.

Global food prices rise for 2nd consecutive month in March amid Middle East conflict: FAO