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China's Qu Dongyu Reelected Unopposed as Head of UN Food Agency

by Agence France-Presse

   Rome, Italy --

   The head of the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization, Qu Dongyu,
   was re-elected Sunday for a second term as head of the U.N. agency.

   He was the only candidate standing for the role of FAO director-general
   and received 168 out of 182 votes in a ballot in Rome on Sunday.

   Qu, a former Chinese government minister who was nominated for the post
   by Beijing, will serve a new four-year term from August 1.

   His appointment is seen as a part of a drive by Beijing to get more
   Chinese figures into senior jobs at international bodies.

   Qu, a biologist by training, was vice-minister of agriculture before
   taking over as head of the U.N. agency in 2019.

   FAO directors can hold the role for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

   The vote came during the FAO Conference, which runs until July 7.