FAO Director-General’s UNGA80 Visit: A Photo Chronicle

As the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) unfolded in New York, the Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Dr QU Dongyu, led a high-level delegation on a two-day diplomatic mission.

22 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu walks with FAO Deputy Director-General Maurizio Martina (centre) and FAO New York Liaison Office Director Angélica Jácome (right) near the United Nations Headquarters as they arrive to attend the High-level Meeting commemorating the 80th anniversary of the UN General Assembly. ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

Multilateralism and Milestones

On Monday, the Director-General participated in the High-level Plenary Meeting of the General Assembly to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the United Nations. Later, he joined the opening session of the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, demonstrating FAO's commitment to supporting women's role in agrifood systems transformation.

23 September 2025, New York City, USA - United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres speaks during the General Debate of the 80th Session of the General Assembly at UN Headquarters. ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

The day continued with the Director-General delivering remarks at the United Nations Private Sector Forum, hosted by the UN Global Compact. He engaged with business leaders, innovators, and policymakers to explore collaborative solutions for transforming agrifood systems.

22 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu speaks with Dan Pathomvanich of NR Instant Produce Public Company Limited during the UN Global Compact Private Sector Forum.©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

A series of bilateral meetings followed, including discussions with ECOSOC President H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa. They committed to advancing global food security and nutrition through innovative financing, technology, and inclusive empowerment of youth and women, in support of FAO's four betters mandate.

22 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu (right) meets with ECOSOC President and Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, H.E. Lok Bahadur Thapa (left). ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

The Director-General also inaugurated the new premises of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations in New York, coinciding with FAO's 80th anniversary

22 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu participates in a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new FAO Liaison Office in New York. ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

Later in the day, the Director-General met with UN Under-Secretary-General for Policy and Chair of the UN80 Task Force, Guy Ryder, reaffirming FAO's commitment to a more agile, coordinated, and effective UN system.

22 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu meets with Guy Ryder, UN Under-Secretary-General for Policy, at UN Headquarters. ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

He also met with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Felipe Paullier, to emphasize their shared commitment to youth empowerment. They pledged to collaborate on advocacy initiatives that equip young people with the skills and opportunities needed to lead agrifood systems transformation.

22 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu greets UN Assistant Secretary-General for Youth Affairs, Felipe Paullier, at the FAO Liaison Office in New York. ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

Before ending the day, the Director-General delivered keynote remarks at a High-level Side Event on Social Business, Youth and Technology, speaking alongside Nobel Laureates Professor Muhammad Yunus and José Ramos-Horta, President of Timor-Leste.

22 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu speaks during a High-level Side Event on Social Business, Youth and Technology at UN Headquarters. ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

Strategic Talks and Global Partnerships

On Tuesday, the Director-General attended the opening of the General Debate of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), held under the theme "Better together: 80 years and more for peace, development and human rights."

23 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu (right) sits with other heads of delegation and senior officials at the opening of the General Debate of the 80th Session of the General Assembly.©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

At a luncheon hosted by FAO, the Director-General presented the Financing for Shock-Driven Food Crisis Facility (FSFC), an innovative mechanism that promotes a new model of anticipatory action aimed at preventing food crises from escalating, thereby saving lives and reducing the long-term costs of humanitarian response. . He emphasized the need to shift from reactive to anticipatory approaches and highlighted the FSFC as a transformative, data-driven mechanism leveraging FAO's technical expertise and global presence. 23 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu speaks during the High-level Luncheon on the Financing for Shock-Driven Food Crisis Facility. ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

Throughout the day, the Director-General held bilateral meetings. He met with President of the Dominican Republic, H.E. Luis Rodolfo Abinader Corona, commending the country's progress in recuing food insecurity and stressing the importance of subregional cooperation, especially for Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

23 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu (right) greets Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader during their bilateral meeting at UN Headquarters. ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

He also met with Japan's Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, H.E. Sachiko Yamamoto, expressing gratitude for Japan's support of FAO's work. Vice-Minister Yamamoto commended FAO's science-based approach and confirmed Japan's participation in the upcoming World Food Forum.

23 September 2025, New York City, USA - FAO Director-General QU Dongyu (right) speaks with H.E. Sachiko Yamamoto, Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, at the FAO Liaison Office in New York. ©FAO/Roberto Schmidt

Following two days of dynamic engagement, the Director-General highlighted FAO's commitment to transforming agrifood systems through high-level strategic dialogues, the presentation of the recently launched Financing for Shock-Driven Food Crisis Facility, and the inauguration of the new Liaison Office premises in New York