Scholars and experts from China and Arab countries met at a symposium on sustainable development in agriculture, in the city of Yinchuan, Ningxia, on Sept 11, with regional and Agriculture Ministry sponsorship, and to discuss technological cooperation between China and Arab countries.

Scholars and experts from China and Arab countries at the China-Arab States Agricultural Symposium, in Yinchuan, Ningxia. on Sept 11 [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Chair of the China-Arab States Agricultural Symposium 2015 was Wang Ying, director-general of the Ministry’s International Cooperation Dept, with a vice-minister, Qu Dongyu, addressing the opening ceremony.

Cui Bo, deputy Party chief of Ningxia, explained that the region is looking for innovative ways for regional cooperation, since China and Silk Road countries are working on the “Belt and Road” strategy, which China started in 2013, and added that he thinks these projects will bring many business opportunities for Ningxia.

Cui went on to point to Ningxia’s favorable heat, water, and soil conditions that are good for agriculture and its advantages in planting and breeding, and its work on modernizing its agriculture for more cost-effective results using local characteristics and how Ningxia has climate and geographic conditions similar to Arab countries and the great potential for cooperation in such fields as dry land farming, water-saving agriculture, desertification control, and soil improvement.

Also addressing the gathering were Wu Kongming, of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Wang Wenyu, chief of Ningxia's forestry administration and fficials from Jordan and Sudan.