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Through the Eyes of Participants (XIX):Deepen China-Africa cooperation in agricultural modernization, and write a new chapter in China-Africa friendship and cooperation

Program Executive Department of Cooperation in Human Resources Development     January 13, 2023

Agriculture constitutes the foundation of national economy, and agricultural modernization is the cornerstone of national modernization. The report of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China clearly indicates “accelerating the construction of a powerful country in agriculture”, defining the direction and goal for China's agricultural modernization. While adhering to the path of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics based on its own national conditions, China has also actively shared its experience with other developing countries, conducted in-depth cooperation in poverty reduction, agricultural modernization and other fields, and contributed to the global economic recovery and sustainable development.

From November 10 to 23, 2022, AIBO successfully organized the Seminar on China-Africa Cooperation on Agricultural Modernization, with 24 participants from Egypt, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Tanzania. During the seminar, experts and professors in relevant fields from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the China Institute of International Studies, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Agricultural University, the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences were invited to systematically introduce China's national conditions, China's foreign policy, the “Belt and Road Initiative”, China's development process of and experience in agricultural modernization, promotion of rural economic development via E-commerce, and China's rural revitalization strategy, and smart agriculture through nearly 20 special lectures, discussion and exchanges of ideas, as well as “cloud visits” and “cloud surveys”. After14-day in-depth activities, the participants have gained a more comprehensive understanding of the current situation and future of agricultural modernization in China, experienced China's long and brilliant culture, and expressed admiration for China's great achievements in rural economic development and construction over the past 40 years of reform and opening up. The participants also said that they will, based on the current situation of agricultural development in their respective countries, draw on China's experience in the development of agricultural modernization, ponder the development direction and future in their respective countries, explore and choose the development path of agricultural modernization suitable for their countries, and make contribution to the development of agricultural modernization.

“China's experience is crucial to us”

National conditions vary from country to country, so do the road and model of agricultural modernization. The Chinese government has always prioritize the development of agriculture and rural areas, accelerated the modernization of agriculture and rural areas, has fought a decisive battle against poverty that is unprecedented in scale and intensity, and has benefited the largest number of people in human history, launched and implemented the rural revitalization strategy, and promoted to achieve historic development and unprecedented changes in agriculture and rural areas. The per capita disposable income of rural residents nationwide has increased from less than 1,200 dollars in 2012 to nearly 3,000 dollars in 2021. Based on its own national conditions, China has explored a path of agricultural modernization with Chinese characteristics, contributed Chinese the wisdom and Chinese programs to the world's agricultural modernization, which has important reference significance for other developing countries.

Anthony Michael, seed certification officer of Nigeria National Agricultural Seeds Council, said in his speech at the opening ceremony of the seminar: “China is a large agricultural country with a long history of agricultural development. We look forward to learning from China’s experience in agricultural development through this seminar. Besides, we also hope to cooperate with China to continuously improve the level of agricultural modernization, speed up the agricultural development, and make contributions to our agricultural development, since agriculture is crucial to a country. Nigeria, like other African countries, will utilize the technology platform to exchange and learn from China and the rest of the world on agricultural modernization. I hope our people can benefit more from a higher level of agricultural modernization and better agricultural development. ” He once again told us at the end of the seminar: “I hope to apply the knowledge learned from the seminar to practical work, because I want to see that one day Nigeria will develop as well as China. Thank you AIBO again for this valuable opportunity to participate in the seminar. I look forward to more training on the agricultural development in the near future. Thanks a lot!”

James Mwesongo Mnhonya, a scientific researcher from the laboratory of Sokoin Agricultural University in Tanzania, also appreciated the seminar, “we have learned very useful experience and updated our knowledge base. I hope that these experience and knowledge will help us improve our agricultural practice in Tanzania and promote food security, ecosystem and sustainable development.”

“Looking forward to a closer cooperation with China in the future”

Since its inception, AIBO has actively implemented the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind. By launching the foreign aid training programs, AIBO has built an open, inclusive, and mutual learning international exchange platform, maintained close link with other developing countries and in-depth practical cooperation in various fields, and promoted the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind in the new era.” In this regard, Dr. Abrham Shumbulo, associate professor of Wolaita Sodo University in Ethiopia, said with high praise: “this seminar is of great significance and far-reaching impact. I really hope that both countries will engage in more academic exchanges in the field of agricultural research and technology application, so as to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. Definitely this will help improve Ethiopia's agricultural production and productivity, and also enrich the experience of Chinese academic researchers in the field of agriculture.” Dr. Nadia Gomaa, senior researcher of Agricultural Research Center, Institute of Egypt of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, also expressed his sincere hope that China and Egypt can maintain more and broader cooperation in the field of agricultural development. Alemayehu Keba, a researcher of the Ethiopian Academy of Agricultural Research, as an official representative, made it clear in his speech at the graduation ceremony that he hoped to benefit the two peoples by enhancing and deepening bilateral cooperation in such fields as digital agricultural technology and services, urban agricultural development, rice, agricultural mechanization production and agricultural product value added.

As one of the important means of foreign aid, foreign aid training demonstrates the responsibility and style of China as a responsible major country, shoulders the important responsibility of promoting economic and technological exchanges and cooperation, and undertaking the glorious mission of spreading Chinese culture and promoting the harmonious development of the world. We will continue to make full use of the foreign aid training platform, intensify the promotion of China's development philosophy and Chinese culture, enhance the trust between countries and the affinity between peoples, and make unremitting efforts to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world with lasting peace, universal security, and common development.

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