China

However, China still faces multiple challenges in preventing a mass return to poverty in rural areas. The rural landscape is dominated by more than 200 million smallholder farmers, who produce the majority of food consumed nationally and manage 70 percent of cultivated land. For some living in the most remote locations, there is poor infrastructure and limited access to financial services, markets and value chains.

Nutrition among the Chinese population continues to improve, with child wasting (low weight for height) and stunting (impaired growth due to malnutrition) under control. However, China’s population is facing the challenge of the coexistence of overweight/obesity and micronutrient deficiency, particularly for low-income rural populations. The overweight rates of children under 5 have reached 8.9 percent, based on the 2024 SOFI report.

WFP’s work with China includes innovative pilot projects to improve the nutrition of preschool children in rural areas, increase the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers, and strengthen agricultural resilience.

Aligned with the Government’s development priorities, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for China, these initiatives enhance the food security and nutritional status of vulnerable populations, build resilience, and contribute to rural revitalization efforts.

Serving as a pivotal hub, WFP China acts as a Centre of Excellence for disseminating valuable knowledge, expertise, and technology derived from China’s national development journey, fostering South-South and Triangular Cooperation with a demand-driven approach.

Given China’s expanding role as a donor in international development, WFP is also focused on mobilizing resources within China and strengthening cooperation with the government and private sector to support its global humanitarian and development efforts.