Hand-over ceremony in Rome to mark China's Qu mandate as new FAO Director-General

ROME, July 31 (Xinhua) -- An official ceremony was held here on Wednesday to mark the handover between the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) outgoing chief Jose Graziano Da Silva and the new Director-General of the agency Qu Dongyu.

Qu -- China's vice minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs since 2015 -- had been elected with a large majority for the post during the 41st FAO Conference that gathered here in June.

His mandate will officially run from Aug. 1 to July 31, 2023.