The Xingjian Agriculture University (XAU) China and University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) have inked two MoUs to establish Modern Agricultural Science and Technology Park at UAF and XAU, development of Pakistan-China agriculture base of research and development and to train UAF technicians in agricultural sciences. The MoUs were inked by XAU Vice President Professor Li Baocheng and UAF Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan at a ceremony held at the UAF Community College.
Both sides agreed to create joint research and development base in agricultural, animal and veterinary sciences especially in agronomy, husbandry and animal medicines to address the issue of the sector. XAU teachers and researchers will provide training to the UAF. They will also collaborate in arranging the seminar, students, faculty exchange and research programmes.
The UAF also agreed to guarantee 25 acre farm with the facilities like water and electricity etc for the establishment of the Park. The XAU will provide the same resources to UAF for joint research and training in Xingjian. Furthermore, it was also decided that XAU will train UAF technicians in any field of the agricultural sciences with Chinese experts.
Professor Li Baocheng said that these MoUs will open up new avenue of Pakistan-China educational co-operation. He said that the collaboration would help fight the different challenges and make the development. Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that Chinese universities were proving their mettle globally in every filed. He said that UAF believes in knowledge diversification and 20 UAF faculty members had completed their PhDs from China and several are perusing their degrees there.
He said that Confucius Institute had been established at the UAF. It is offering Chinese language and cooking courses. It is a step towards bringing the people of both countries further closer. Registrar Muhammad Hussain, Treasurer Umer Saeed, Director External Linkages Dr Rasheed Ahmad and deans and directors were also present on the occasion.