During talks in Rome on Wednesday with premier Giuseppe Conte, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation secretary-general Qu Dongyu lauded the Italian government's "clear and strong" support for FAO.
"In their meeting, Qu underscored his appreciation for the clear and strong support of the Italian government for FAO’s events and projects, noting in particular Italy’s nutritional advocacy for the Mediterranean Diet," FAO said in a statement on its website.
Qu called Italy, in whose capital FAO, the UN International Fund for Agricultural Development and the UN World Food Programme are based, "a food harbour" said the statement.
In a keynote address at FAO headquarters on Wednesday to mark World Food Day, Conte said Italy wanted to host a planned UN food systems summit in 2021 - when the country will hold the G20 presidency.
