On March 28, the opening ceremony was held for International Training Programs on Agricultural Mechanization by Jiangsu University which include:

CSC "China-Africa Friendship" Innovation and Application Training on Agricultural Equipment Technology;

MARA Modern Agriculture Workshop of China-Pakistan Regional Innovation Institute for Modern Agriculture;

"Harvesting Africa" Agricultural Modernization Technical Training.

The dignitaries include:

1. Mr. Xu Guocheng, Chairman of China Association for Promotion of International Agricultural Cooperation

2. Mr. Carlos Watson, Official Representative of Food and Agriculture Organization （FAO）of the United Nations in China

3. Mr. Riccardo Savigliano, Chief of the Agro-Industries and Skills Development Division (AIS), Representative of Mr. Dejene Tezera, Director of the Agriculture Department of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization （UNIDO）

4. Mr. Anshuman Varma, Deputy Head of the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization (CSAM) of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP)

Jiangsu University CPC Party Secretary Prof. Yuan Shouqi, President Prof. Yan Xiaohong and Vice President Prof. Zhao Yutao attended the opening ceremony.

Prof. Yan Xiaohong pointed out in his speech that since undertaking the agricultural machinery training of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization and the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific in the 1980s, the university has signed a memorandum of cooperation in recent years becoming the base and partner of the United Nations for international transfer of agricultural machinery technology, international talent training and international discussion. The program has increased the training of agricultural equipment technology innovation and application of the Chinese Ministry of Education Scholarship of China Africa friendship in the early stage of Harvest Africa agricultural machinery training. The modern agriculture program has improved the level of training and Belt and Road joint support will be provided to support the global poverty alleviation. Varma: the novel coronavirus pneumonia has brought many challenges to the agriculture and food system. It has now more than ever become a common understanding to build global food security. The sustainable agricultural mechanization development will become a key measure to better reduce poverty and establish an eco-agricultural system to cope with global disasters. He said that the United Nations Center for sustainable agricultural mechanization will provide expert and student support in the Asia Pacific region for the training and hopes that the training will contribute to a greener and more resilient Asia Pacific agricultural system.

Mr. Richard Savigliano pointed out that the Agriculture Department of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization will take this series of international training projects on agricultural mechanization as the starting point, further integrate resources, give full play to the technical advantages of Jiangsu University in the field of agricultural equipment, carry out project cooperation in the fields of high-quality development of agricultural modernization, promote agricultural product value chain, jointly promote the upgrading of agricultural mechanization technology and the sustainable development of agricultural technology in developing countries including African countries and work together to achieve the overall inclusive and sustainable development goal of UNIDO.

Mr. Carlos Watson said that Novel coronavirus pneumonia has been very fragile and unexpected in the world's agriculture and food system since it’s outbreak. The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda needs the transformation of the current system of agricultural transformation. Agricultural mechanization will greatly increase productivity, hence the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will continue to work with partners to provide an agricultural support system for improving agricultural productivity.

“China’s Belt and Road Agricultural Development Center and Jiangsu University has made significant contributions to promoting agricultural modernization and helping rural revitalization”, Mr. Xu Guocheng said.

Prof. Yan Xiaohong and Prof. Zhao Yutao unveiled the China Pakistan Regional Innovation Institute for modern agriculture. The China Pakistan Regional Innovation Institute for modern agriculture will give full play to the advantages of China and Pakistan, establish the value chain of international technology transfer of China Pakistan agricultural modernization, carry out agricultural technology training and international forum discussion, build a platform for sharing , have common prosperity for the sustainable development of China Pakistan agricultural cooperation and building multinational enterprises of agricultural equipment.

Prof. Yuan Shouqi presented flags to the representatives of the trainees from Pakistan, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, Zambia and other countries. He further interacted with the representatives of foreign students, warmly congratulated the trainees on their successful selection into the international training course on agricultural mechanization and encouraged them to continue to play the role of messengers of friendly exchanges between Chinese and foreign youth.

The series of international training on Agricultural Mechanization includes equipment and technology in the whole process of agricultural production such as agricultural farming, field management, water-saving irrigation, grain harvest, food processing and agricultural product quality inspection. The training lasted three to five months with more than 100 trainees from Pakistan, Zambia, Ethiopia, Congo, Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt and other African countries.

(OEC)