70 Countries, 190 Cities, 24 Time Zones, Same Time

(June 7, 2009, SHANGHAI ) Almost 4,000 people in Shanghai and 24 other locations across China took part in the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), its local partner, China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation (CFPA) and its major corporate partners, TNT and DSM, in an annual event "End Hunger: Walk the World" to call for an end to child hunger and malnutrition.

"End Hunger: Walk the World" was first launched jointly by United Nations World Food Programme and its largest corporate partner, TNT, in 2003. Through the past 7 years, the Walk has mobilised about one million people, across 24 time zones, around the globe. This year, the walk saw people walking in 70 countries. It began in Australia with a climb up the Sydney Harbour Bridge and continued through all 24 time zones finishing on the Pacific island of Samoa.

In Shanghai, Olympic champion Li Xiaopeng joined employees, families and friends from TNT and DSM to call for an end to child hunger and malnutrition around the world. They raised funds to deliver nutritious meals to poor children in Cambodia, and in project in China run by the China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation and WFP.

Hunger and malnutrition are the biggest threats to global health worldwide, and WFP is the United Nation’s frontline agency in the fight against hunger. Nearly one in six people on the planet go to bed hungry at night, and one in three children in the developing world is suffering from stunted growth due to micronutrient deficiencies. According to WFP, it will costs just RMB 2 dollars for WFP to give a child a nutritious meal through its school feeding programmes.

"Walk the World comes at a time of unprecedented challenges for the hungry and the poor," said Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of WFP. "Children are suffering because food prices are still high in many developing countries, and the global financial crisis is now hitting family incomes hard."

"For just a few Yuan, WFP and CFPA can provide a nutritious meal to a child at school – helping them grow and learn well," said Anthea Webb, Director of WFP China. "Every child deserves the best chance we can offer them, wherever they live."

‘Walk the World’ exemplifies our commitment to further our cooperation with WFP. We will publish the usage of fund raised in today’s event via our official website to ensure the fund will be used to help needy children in China and Cambodia," said Mr. Chen Kaizhi, Vice-President of China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation.

"This is the seventh time that TNT has taken part in this event. We have seen the positive changes brought by this meaningful program to help children in hunger and malnutrition," said Michael Drake, Regional Managing Director, TNT North Asia. "I am particularly proud that, this year, our Chinese colleagues outside of Shanghai in other 24 cities also participated in the benefit walk event at the same time, to fight hunger."

"As a world leader in supplying nutritional products, DSM works closely with WFP globally to fight against malnutrition and hunger for people especially children in those poor countries with our knowledge and expertise," said Weiming Jiang, President of DSM China."Through this "walk", DSM hopes to encourage more people especially private and social sector to join their efforts to resolve the "hidden hunger", DSM will stay its commitment in building a healthier life for people.