THE GRAND OPENING OF THE KAZAKHSTAN-CHINESE CENTER FOR SMART AGRICULTURE WAS HELD AT KAZNARU
As a result of negotiations between the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Chairman of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping, more than 30 documents were signed, including the Agreement between the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University and Lanzhou University of the People's Republic of China "On the joint creation of the Kazakh-Chinese center for smart agriculture farms."
✅ As part of this Agreement, on July 12, 2024, the grand opening of the Kazakh-Chinese Center “Smart Agriculture” took place in Almaty on the basis of KazNARU.
✅ The event was attended by the heads of two universities and diplomats - First Deputy Chairman of the Board-Rector Primkul Ibragimov, head of the Chinese delegation, Secretary of the Party Committee of Lanzhou University Ma Xiaojie, Consul General of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty Jiang Wei, vice-rectors and deans, research scientists, scientific directors of leading research institutes and representatives of government agencies.
✅ According to Dr. Primkul Ibragimov, the center’s activities will ensure the transfer of advanced technologies in the field of smart agriculture to Kazakhstan and will be aimed at addressing the following tasks:
* promoting the development of green and sustainable agriculture in both countries;
* digitalization of agriculture;
* innovations in germplasm;
* green and low-carbon technologies;
* rational use of water;
* promoting the development of green and sustainable agriculture in both countries;
* prevention and control of harmful organisms;
* automation, precise control of agricultural machinery;
* sustainable development of agriculture.
✅ “To work on the innovative solutions of these problems, the Center will focus on the following functions: exchange of teachers and students within the framework of scientific research and education, joint scientific projects and publications, development of joint educational programs and curricula, exchange of scientific materials, publications and other information, joint seminars, conferences and master classes, and also organizes academic events,” said Primkul Ibragimov.
✅ The center will also provide training for the agro industry about modern international standards, and it will bring the scientific support of the industry to a new, international level. In addition it will provide technology transfer to the agricultural sector of Kazakhstan.
✅ Today, KazNARU plays a leading role in the development of mutually beneficial cooperation and implements many large-scale scientific projects in the field of agriculture. It ranks 6th in Central Asia according to the QS Asia rating, 5th place in Kazakhstan in the QS Sustainability rating, 2nd place among technical universities. In 2023, 4 research institutes and one experimental farm joined the university. This is a global trend that integrates research and knowledge into a single educational system.
✅ The speaker noted that the Chairman of the Board - Rector of KazNARU, President of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan, academician Dr. Akylbek Kurishbayev has put significant efforts into developing cooperation between Kazakhstan and China, as a reliable partner in the agricultural industry and in the field of science and education. Under the leadership of the rector, the university signed agreements with more than 20 scientific and educational institutions of the PRC on the implementation of educational programs and joint scientific research. Including, with the China Agricultural University (Beijing), Sichuan Agricultural Academy, Henan Agricultural University, Shikhizi University, etc.
✅ On May 17, 2024, a government delegation led by Vice-Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Liu Guozhong visited the Kazakh National Agrarian Research University and got acquainted with the scientific and innovative activities of the university. During the meeting, the issue of creating an intellectual agricultural center at the university was discussed. As a result, this proposal was presented and supported by the Heads of the two states.
✅ In turn, Jiang Wei, Consul General of the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Almaty, noted the positive dynamics of cooperation between China and Kazakhstan, and also supported the implementation of effective mechanisms for deepening scientific and educational ties between the two countries. The opening of the Center on the basis of KazNARU will allow scientists from the two countries to conduct joint scientific research on current problems of the agro-industrial complex, transfer new technologies, and train competitive specialists.
✅ In his speech, the head of the Chinese delegation of Lanzhou University, Ma Xiaojie, noted that the LZU has more than a hundred-year history and is directly subordinate to the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China and is one of the best universities in the PRC and included in the Double First Class. At 31 faculties students study in the following specialties: agricultural sciences, pharmacology and toxicology, engineering, ecology, mathematics, chemistry, physics, botany and zoology, biology and biochemistry, clinical medicine, social sciences, general and computer sciences, regional economics and nuclear science and etc.
✅ The opening of the new Center is a natural continuation of the further strengthening of relations between China and Kazakhstan in the field of science, education and the agricultural sector, deepening cooperation between the two universities (conducting joint scientific research; developing exchange programs for students, masters and doctoral students; joint creation of educational programs).
✅ In order to further develop the activities of the Center, the following proposals were voiced: creation and financing of equipment for laboratories within the Center; consideration of sources of funding for joint research from China; accelerating the development of joint educational programs.
✅ Also, members of the Chinese delegation supported the proposals voiced, got acquainted with the scientific and innovative infrastructure of KazNARU and highly appreciated the innovative scientific achievements of the university.
✅ The parties signed an Agreement on the opening of the Kazakh-Chinese Center for Smart Agriculture and expressed confidence in its successful activities, which will make a certain contribution to the strategic partnership between Kazakhstan and China.
Press service of KazNARU
