University welcomes first batch of Pakistani trainees

Representatives from China and Pakistan take a group photo at the launch ceremony of Pakistan's Initiative for Capacity Building of 1,000 Agriculture Graduates in China held at Northwest A&F University in Xi'an, Shanxi province, on April 18. (Photo provided to CHINA DAILY)

Northwest A&F University has welcomed its first batch of several hundred trainees under a Sino-Pakistan agricultural program that will send a total of 1,000 Pakistani agriculture graduates to China for advanced training, the university said.

A commitment to Pakistan's Initiative for Capacity Building of 1,000 Agriculture Graduates in China was made between the countries during Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China in June.

The trainees will travel to Shaanxi province in three batches for three months of training at NWAFU and Yangling Vocational and Technical College, Shaanxi authorities said. The first batch of 292 trainees attended the program's opening ceremony at NWAFU on April 18.

Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong said in a video speech at the opening ceremony that China and Pakistan, as large agricultural countries, have strong complementary advantages and vast potential for deepening cooperation in advancing agricultural modernization.

He emphasized that agricultural cooperation is pivotal in advancing the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, adding that China will take concrete measures to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in the sector.

Bilal Mahmood Chaudhary, minister and deputy chief of mission at the Pakistani embassy in China, expressed his gratitude for China's efforts in organizing the program. He noted that the combination of China's advanced agricultural technologies with Pakistan's land and labor resources will yield mutual benefits and shared success.

NWAFU president Wu Pute said the program adopts an innovative model combining theoretical instruction, practical operation, research guidance and cultural exchange.

The curriculum, tailored to Pakistan's agricultural needs, covers areas including livestock breeding and genomics, seed production and processing technology, and livestock disease monitoring and prevention, he said.

In addition to theoretical learning, the participants will conduct research under the guidance of Chinese experts, gain hands-on experience through laboratory work and field practice, and engage in various cultural exchange activities.

"Amid the growing global challenges of climate change and food security, it is crucial to strengthen international agricultural cooperation," Wu said, adding that NWAFU will use this program as an opportunity to work with Pakistani partners to explore new pathways and approaches for agricultural development, contributing to global agricultural sustainability.

Muhammad Humayun, a trainee representative, said he was honored and grateful to be part of the initiative, which is aimed at equipping young agriculture professionals with the skills and exposure needed to address the challenges faced by his country's agriculture sector.

"Our group includes students from every corner of Pakistan," he said. "We are especially inspired by the opportunity to learn from China's successes in agricultural modernization, value addition and rural development."

He said this training program represents more than just an academic exchange — it is a symbol of friendship and collaboration between Pakistan and China.

"As students, we are here not only to gain knowledge, but to build bridges of mutual understanding, cultural exchange and shared progress," he added.