(Publish from Houston Texas USA)
(Zafar Chishti)
FAISALABAD: Silk-Road Biohealth Agricultural Industry Alliance, Northwest A&F University China and University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) will deepen agricultural and educational ties and explore new opportunities for academic, research and agri-industry collaboration.It was discussed at the meeting of Chinese delegation led by Prof Zhang Lixin with UAF Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Zulfiqar Ali. The talks focused on deepening agricultural and educational ties with a strong emphasis on transforming research into industry-ready solutions.
Professor Zhang Lixin said that NWAFU is the most comprehensive agricultural university in China offering a complete set of discipline in the agriculture. He said that the both countries are enjoying excellent ties and collaborating in the various fields. He said NWAFU was ranked among the top listed agricultural institutes. He lauded these steps taken on the part of UAF for agrarian uplift and imparting Chinese cultural and language education through Confucius Institute.
Professor Dr Zulfiqar Ali said that UAF was running 40 MoUs with China. As many as 87 UAF faculty members have got higher education from China. He emphasized the widespread impact of the Confucius Institute at UAF, which has benefited over 35,000 students and faculty across its network. He said that the collaboration will help learn from each other experiences and address the common challenges. The meeting was attended by Deans Prof Dr Qamar Bilal, Dr Shahid Mehmood, Dr Ghulam Murtaza, Director Research Dr Sultan Habib Ullah, Director External Linkages Dr Muhammad Tehseen Azhar, Confucius Institute Dr Saddam Hussain, Dr Fahad Rasul and others.
Moreover, UAF also arranged targeted interactive sessions between the Chinese delegates and leading Pakistani companies and entrepreneurs in key sectors of poultry science, animal feed, fertilizers, food & fruit processing and precision agriculture. This forum served as a dynamic marketplace for collaboration. Representatives from both sides engaged in substantive dialogues, exploring concrete opportunities for joint business ventures, technology transfer, skill development programs and resource sharing. The discussions aimed to directly connect Chinese innovation with Pakistani market potential and agricultural needs.The Chinese delegation also toured the UAF Exhibition Center, showing keen interest in the university’s research innovations and technological achievements. They also visited the Confucius Institute at UAF to understand its academic and cultural role.This visit is poised to significantly strengthen Pakistan-China cooperation in higher education and agricultural development. The expected outcomes include enhanced joint research, particularly in bio-health agriculture and smart farming, and the fostering of agri-industrial development through the powerful new university-industry-international partnerships catalyzed today.
