A heated exchange of words between Japan and Russia over the latter’s war with Ukraine marked the concluding session of the four-day 36th Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific of FAO (APRC-36), in Dhaka.
China also joined the rally and criticised Japan for tabling such matters in a platform like APRC, which is dedicated to food security.
Terming the Russia-Ukrainian war as an 'aggression', the Japanese delegation urged member countries of APRC to criticise Russia.
Russia, also a member of APRC, sought floor and criticised Japan's move to table such political issues at APRC.
The Russian delegation said that APRC is for discussing issues on food and food security.
The issue Japan is discussing here should be discussed in the security council of the UN, not here, the Russian delegation said.
The Chinese delegation also echoed that of Russia and requested member countries to keep remain in issues of APRC fixed earlier.
Ensuring better production, nutrition, environment and a better life were promised in the post-Covid period at APRC 36.
Bangladesh hosted the FAO event on March 08-11 for the first time that brought in political delegates, officials, experts, media personnel from 46 countries.
Apart from the government officials, 900 people from the member states, FAO senior officials, representatives of various UN bodies, development partners, NGOs and members of civil society participated in the hybrid conference, held at Hotel Intercontinental and Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.
The APRC 36 has made Bangladesh chair of APRC for the next two years while the 37th APRC venue was set in Sri Lanka.
