The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has decided, on the basis of full consultation with China, to put an end to its food aid to the country starting next year.

We understand that the decision was made because China has grown into a major grain producer, gaining the ability to feed its people and help millions of its poor out of poverty.

We respect the role of WFP in that process. Since 1979 when China established formal relations with the organization, WFP has poured in US$1 billion to assist some 30 million Chinese people, mostly in faraway central and western regions with adverse geographic and farming conditions.

The organization has helped to meet their immediate need for food and contribute to grassroots communities through food-for-work and food-for-training programmes. The infrastructure programmes helped those people build farm-to-market roads, irrigation systems and drinking water facilities.

The Chinese Government has also invested heavily to support the smooth implementation of those programmes.

The last shipment of WFP-directed food arrived in April, marking the end of the 26 years of the life-changing programme's history in China. But it is not an end to the co-operation between the two sides.

China shares with the WFP its strong commitment to poverty reduction, from both national and global perspectives. While building a harmonious society domestically, it is seeking proper channels to contribute to a more balanced and harmonious world.

In 2002, for example, it donated US$5 million to the WFP, most of which was earmarked for development in the underdeveloped African regions. Early this year, it pledged to offer US$1 million to help give emergency food assistance to the needy after the tsunami hit the Indian Ocean areas last December.

Once a country with 30 per cent of its population trapped in poverty, China has seen the number of poverty-stricken people reduced from 250 million in 1978 to 29 million. Although suffering occasional setbacks, China's poverty reduction drive has fared steadily.

Strong leadership, active participation of local people and assistance of international organizations are key to the achievement.

And progress in its farming technologies has accelerated that process. It boasts one of the world's best hybrid rice-raising techniques, which now is applied beyond its borders to help improve the food security of people in other corners of the globe.

As it remains a developing country with a relatively low per capita income of US$1,000, China is facing a daunting task of reinforcing and improving its past records in poverty reduction and food self-sufficiency. In 2003, the number of China's poor people increased by 800,000 for the first time in 20 years.

Against this backdrop, China is yet to play a role equivalent to that of developed countries.

It does not mean, however, that China cannot play a significant part. Its technical expertise in tackling food emergencies will provide valuable help for WFP programmes in other developing countries.

As a huge grain market, the WFP can also procure inexpensive grain and food from the Chinese market to lower the costs of assistance programmes.

The two sides are negotiating to strengthen their partnership and co-operation.

We look forward to closer co-operation with the WFP to push the global drive of poverty reduction and food sufficiency.