The Spring Festival symbolizes our hope for the future and happiness of family reunion. Today, we
are gathered here to reconnect and to celebrate. The year of the fire horse is around the corner.
In traditional Chinese culture, the horse is a symbol of unstoppable power and
ambition, while fire is a symbol of passion and guidance that lightens the road ahead.
First, throughout history, the horse has been a symbol of strength, willpower, and strong stamina.
Today, war rages on. Climate change continues to escalate. The economic landscape is turbulent,
and the specter of hunger persists. The world faces complex and severe challenges. As a result, we
must act like the horse. We must build resilience, stay focused, and continue to move forward so
that we can navigate those transformations.
Second, the horse is a symbol of partnership and mutual trust. For thousands of years, every
breakthrough of human civilization has been reliant on our close relationship with the horse. The
great vision of food for all cannot be made possible by any single nation or organization. As a
result, we must act and coordinate our efforts to promote the transition of agricultural and food
systems. We should stay focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goals and achieve the four
goals, namely, better production, better nutrition, and a better environment and a better life, so
that no one will be left behind.
Third, the horse is a symbol of energy and the spirit of enterprise. In spite of the many years of
frustrations and challenges, we must act like the galloping horse and translate challenges into
opportunities as we move forward. We must accelerate investments in sustainable agriculture and
food systems, promote climate-resilient agriculture, and provide more support for small farmers
because they are the very pillars and foundations of global food security. We also have to
accelerate efforts to translate promises into actions and actions into results.