ADDIS ABABA, Aug 30 (NNN-XINHUA) — The African Union (AU) Commission and China renewed their partnership on Friday to advance modern agricultural technology and resilient agri-food systems in Africa.
While addressing the “Meet China in Africa” event held at an urban agriculture demonstration center in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, Jiang Feng, head of the Chinese Mission to the AU, said agricultural cooperation constitutes an important cornerstone of win-win cooperation between China and Africa.
“China’s agricultural technical assistance and transfer of advanced agricultural technologies have enriched the grain bags and vegetable baskets of the African people, and contributed to the steady advancement of agricultural modernization in Africa,” Jiang said.
He highlighted that China has established over 20 agricultural technology demonstration centers and promoted more than 300 advanced agricultural technologies in Africa, benefiting over 1 million smallholder farmers.
Noting that China has also deployed over 500 agricultural experts in Africa and offered training for nearly 9,000 agricultural talents, Jiang said China will continue to support Africa’s modernization drive to improve the well-being of its people through ensuring food security.
Patience Mhuriro-Mashapa, an agriculture and food security expert at the AU Commission, commended China’s unwavering partnership with Africa, particularly through numerous capacity-building training programs.
“Modernized agriculture can redeem Africa from perpetual food security. The best practice China is promoting aligns well with the AU agenda 2063 aspirations and the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Program’s vision of building a sustainable agri-food system,” she said.
She added that China’s support for Africa’s modern agricultural development has significantly strengthened skills, enhanced institutional capacity, and fostered knowledge exchanges in the sector.
The Chinese agricultural experts at the demonstration center have introduced new agricultural technologies, provided inputs, and upgraded agricultural infrastructures for local communities, according to Melese Anshebo, deputy commissioner of Addis Ababa City Administration Farmers and Urban Agriculture Development. — NNN-XINHUA
