On August 27th, the 21st Colombian-Chinese Week, jointly held by the China-Latin America Agricultural Education and Research Innovation Alliance (CLAERIA) and the Colombia-China Friendship Association, drew to an end with the musical performances by SCAU and Universidad de Caldas.
The Colombian-Chinese Week has attracted considerable attention from the government sectors, universities, enterprises in both countries.
H.E. Ivan Duque Márquez, President of the Republic of Colombia sent his congratulations. H.E. Lan Hu, Ambassador of China in Colombia, Mr. Rodolfo Zea Navarro, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia, H.E. Alan Bojanic, Representative of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization to Colombia, Mr. Liu Guodao, Representative from Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China and Mr. Guillermo Puyana, President of Colombia-China Friendship Association attended the opening ceremony. The opening ceremony also bore witness to the signing of the Framework Agreement for Sino-Colombian Fungi Research Center by President Liu Yahong from SCAU and President Alejandro Ceballos Márquez from Universidad de Caldas.
Prof. Liu Yahong, Director-General of CLAERIA, Tito José Crissien, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia and Luis Diego Monsalve Hoyos, Ambassador of Colombia in China attended the closing ceremony of the Colombian-Chinese Week.
Prof. Liu addressed that, China-Latin America and the Caribbean cooperation is an integral and preferential part of the Belt and Road Initiative andthe South-South cooperation proposed by China. South China Agricultural University also attaches great importance to the Initiative and actively promotes the educational and research cooperation with universities, research institutions and enterprises in Latin America and the Caribbean, especially with Colombia. At a critical stage of improving the quality and efficiency of China-Latin America and the Caribbean agricultural cooperation, South China Agricultural University proposed to establish the China-Latin America Agricultural Education and Research Innovation Alliance (CLAERIA) in December 2020. 59 agriculture-related universities, research institutions and enterprises from 14 countries in China and Latin America and the Caribbean have joined the Alliance, including 19 universities from Colombia. Since its establishment last year, the Alliance has actively promoted practical cooperation between Chinese and Latin American member institutions in personnel training, research collaborations, agricultural technology training, construction of modern agricultural science and technology demonstration parks, and research centers. SCAU has plans to carry out talent training, scientific research and industrial cooperation with various Colombian universities, including Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Universidad de Caldas, Universidad del Tolima, and Universidad de Valle etc.
H.E. Ivan Duque Márquez, President of the Republic of Colombia congratulated on the successful holding of the event. He said that China is the second commercial partner of Colombia, the cooperation between the two countries has been well-contented, broad and prospective, and the interaction in fields of agricultural science, agricultural investment and agricultural trading is active, diversified and fruitful, he is convinced that more well-fare will be made for the people from both countries.
In his speech, Ambassador Lan Hu acknowledged the contribution made by Colombian-Chinese Week to the profound friendship between Colombia and China. He also highlighted that the participation of those 20 Colombian universities to CLAERIA, will surely bring about fruitful cooperation in talent training, scientific research, technical training and high-tech agricultural demonstration parks etc..
Mr. Tito José Crissien, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation of Colombia, remarked that China has become a global leader in science, technology and economy, which has contributed most to the world economic growth for 15 consecutive years. The agricultural, technical cooperation between Colombia and China will face new opportunities for rapid growth in the years to come.
Mr. Liu Guodao, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China said that China and Colombia are both developing countries. Although we are far apart geographically, we have a long history of exchanges and a profound traditional friendship. The agricultural cooperation between the two sides is highly complementary and has great potential for cooperation.
Mr. Rodolfo Zea Navarro, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development of Colombia, said that Colombia always highlights the development of agricultural technology. We provided an efficient and convenient modern agriculture digital technology system with El campo a un click and Mi Registro Rural, which will be conductive to the development smart agriculture in Colombia and China.
During the Agricultural Week, experts from member universities of CLAERIA were invited to deliver lectures on the achievements in agro-ecology and smart agriculture in China. Prof. Luo Shiming, Prof. Hu Chuangshuang, Prof. Li Jiyu, Prof. Nie Qinghua, Associate Prof. Ali Shaukat, Associate Prof. Gu Jin from SCAU elaborated on the topics like Agroecology in China for Sustainable Development, Research and Developments of Bamboo, Application of Biological Control of Insect Pest, Intelligent Agriculture, Progress and Challenges of Yellow Chicken Breeding in China and Cellulose nano-materials. Prof. Liu Aijun from Nanjing Agricultural University introduced the experience of developing agricultural market system in China while Dr. Wang Fei from the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences talked about the loss reduction and processing technology of tropical agricultural products. The lectures were warmly applauded by the farmers as well as students and faculty from Chinese and Colombian universities etc.
The event came to an end with the musical performance from SCAU orchestra and Caldas symphonic orchestra. The Colombian-Chinese Week was the first attempt of CLAERIA to work with an overseas organization to promote the exchange and cooperation between China and Latin American countries. The Alliance will continue its efforts to develop a wide-ranging agricultural educational and scientific innovation platform with the aim to improve people's well-being in the post-epidemic era.
