The walls of Professor Zhang Zhengmao's office at Northwest A&F University are adorned with a map of Central Asia, marked with the places he has visited. \"I've been to 10 places in Kazakhstan,\" Zhang shares, reflecting his deep engagement in the region.
Kazakhstan stands as one of the world's major grain exporters, with the Chinese mainland serving as a significant market for its grain products. In 2017, Zhang traveled to Kazakhstan to spearhead the China-Kazakhstan Agricultural Science and Technology Demonstration Park project, a cornerstone of bilateral agricultural collaboration.
Despite Kazakhstan's favorable conditions for wheat cultivation, including fertile soil and abundant sunlight, local wheat varieties face challenges such as disease susceptibility and lodging. The Chinese mainland has invested extensively in research to address these issues, bringing advanced agricultural practices and resilient wheat strains to the partnership.
\"The complementary advantages of the Chinese mainland and Kazakhstan have made our cooperation a natural fit,\" Zhang remarks. This collaboration not only enhances wheat production but also strengthens the economic ties between the two regions through the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).
Reference(s):
China-Central Asia agricultural cooperation through SCO yields fruits
cgtn.com
