SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION BETWEEN KAZAKHSTAN AND CHINA: NEW DIRECTIONS IN COMBATING DESERTIFICATION
On April 13–14, 2026, a delegation of the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University (KazNARU) paid a working visit to the People’s Republic of China and held a number of important meetings at the China–Central Asia Desertification Control Cooperation Center (Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region).
The delegation was headed by Kuat Eleusizuly Sultangaziev, Member of the Board, Deputy Chairman of the Board – Deputy Rector for Infrastructure Development and Social Affairs. The delegation included T.S. Kerteshev, Associate Professor of the Department of Forest Resources, Hunting and Aquaculture, Head of the Almaty Urban Greening Project, and E.M. Tolkinov, Head of the Asset Management Department of the University.
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On the first day of the visit, the delegation got acquainted with the activities of one of China’s leading ecological companies — Ningxia Ning Miao Ecological Landscape (Group) Co., Ltd. Founded in 2003, the company implements large-scale landscape and environmental projects across China.
During the meeting, advanced technologies for greening arid and semi-arid regions were presented, including:
technology of compressed seed tablets that ensure faster germination and higher survival rates;
moisture-retaining soil compositions that support plant root systems;
“plant survival bags” technology providing long-term nutrition and water supply.
technology of compressed seed tablets that ensure faster germination and higher survival rates;
moisture-retaining soil compositions that support plant root systems;
“plant survival bags” technology providing long-term nutrition and water supply.
These technologies are effectively applied in regions with challenging natural and climatic conditions, including desert and degraded lands.
The KazNARU delegation also visited a project on the restoration of wetlands and the development of an urban park area in Yinchuan. The region is geographically located between the Yellow River and the Helan Mountains, near the Gobi Desert.
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On the second day, a round table was held at the China–Central Asia Desertification Control Cooperation Center.
Welcoming remarks were delivered by Li Xian, Deputy Head of the Forestry and Grassland Administration of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and on behalf of KazNARU by K.E. Sultangaziev.
During the meeting, the Center’s Director Feng Zhanwen presented the main areas of activity and outlined prospects for expanding scientific cooperation with Central Asian countries.
Representatives of the Ningxia University Institute of Forestry and Grassland, the Ningxia Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower, as well as leaders of Chinese research and industrial organizations took part in the discussions.
As a result of the negotiations, the parties agreed on several strategic areas of cooperation:
— establishment of a smart greenhouse and demonstration site for growing tree and shrub seedlings at KazNARU (grant funding from the Chinese side has been preliminarily approved);
— development of double-degree educational programs with Ningxia University, including training of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students;
— joint research in biodiversity conservation (saiga antelope, snow leopard, Przewalski’s horse), as well as implementation of a saiga relocation project within interstate agreements;
— cooperation in water conservation and water resource management, including studying the experience of the Yellow River basin.
— establishment of a smart greenhouse and demonstration site for growing tree and shrub seedlings at KazNARU (grant funding from the Chinese side has been preliminarily approved);
— development of double-degree educational programs with Ningxia University, including training of bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral students;
— joint research in biodiversity conservation (saiga antelope, snow leopard, Przewalski’s horse), as well as implementation of a saiga relocation project within interstate agreements;
— cooperation in water conservation and water resource management, including studying the experience of the Yellow River basin.
Among the priority projects is the implementation of a smart greenhouse at the Baybulak training farm of KazNARU.
Ningxia Ning Miao Ecological Landscape (Group) Co., Ltd. has been identified as the key partner and implementing organization on the Chinese side. The KazNARU delegation also visited the company’s greenhouse complexes and forest nurseries covering an area of 80 hectares.
This visit opens new opportunities for strengthening scientific and educational cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in the fields of ecology, agricultural science and sustainable natural resource management.
Бұл сапар Қазақстан мен Қытай арасындағы аграрлық ғылым, экология және табиғи ресурстарды тиімді басқару саласындағы ынтымақтастықты жаңа деңгейге көтеруге мүмкіндік береді.
KazNARU-дың халықаралық әріптестікті кеңейту бағытындағы бұл қадамы ғылыми әлеуетті арттырумен қатар, жаһандық экологиялық мәселелерді шешуге бағытталған нақты жобаларды іске асыруға жол ашады.
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