Qingdao (TDI): A China-Pakistan academic seminar on modern agricultural machinery and equipment was held at Qingdao Agricultural University, highlighting growing cooperation between the two countries in the field of agricultural innovation and technology.
The event brought together senior academics, researchers, and students with the aim of building a long-term framework for collaborative research, knowledge exchange, and innovation in smart farming.
The seminar featured keynote speeches by Prof. Wang Fangyan, an award-winning scholar and head of Qingdao Agricultural University’s mechanized crop production team, and Mr. Muhammad Asif Noor, CEO of the Global Business Alliance and founding director of Belt and Road Consultants Pvt Ltd, who represented Pakistan as a special guest.
Prof. Wang, in her address, outlined the groundbreaking work her team has done in advancing seed dressing, mechanized sowing, harvesting, and low-resistance excavation technologies. She shared that more than 40 types of agricultural equipment developed by her team have been widely promoted, with several technologies reaching international benchmarks.
“Our technology has not only improved agricultural efficiency but has also broken monopolies in precision sowing and chili stem removal, with several innovations already applied across Belt and Road countries,” she said.
Highlighting the academic collaboration potential, Prof. Wang emphasized that Mr. Asif Noor’s visit would further strengthen bilateral ties in research, technology transfer, and capacity building between China and Pakistan in the agriculture sector.
Representing the student body, Zhang Hui, a postgraduate student of agricultural engineering, praised the university’s role in nurturing innovation and Professor Wang’s mentorship. She shared how the team’s research in ginger bud sowing using deep learning had improved yield potential, adding that such advancements hold promise for application in Pakistan’s agricultural systems as well.
In his keynote address, Asif Noor commended China’s success in transforming its agricultural systems, not just through cutting-edge machinery but also through a well-supported ecosystem of policy, research, and infrastructure. “China’s agricultural vision goes beyond innovation—it is about inclusive and sustainable growth,” he said.
Noor proposed the creation of a China-Pakistan Agricultural Research Network to institutionalize joint research, exchange doctoral students, and develop context-specific technologies such as low-cost, solar-powered smart tractors and AI-based pest management systems. “We must co-create solutions for Pakistan’s smallholders by designing machines adapted to our local conditions,” he said, calling for closer collaboration between Chinese and Pakistani engineers.
He also advocated for the establishment of a China-Pakistan AgroTech Corridor, connecting research institutions, agri-tech firms, and incubators across both countries. The corridor would serve as a platform to promote sustainable farming, smart agriculture, and climate-resilient food systems.
The seminar presented a vision that to build long-term agricultural partnerships between China and Pakistan that combine innovation, youth empowerment, and academic diplomacy. Participants agreed that technology cooperation in agriculture is essential not just for economic development but also for ensuring food security and climate adaptation in both countries.
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