China, Central Asia make continuous efforts to deepen agricultural cooperation

BEIJING,June 15, 2025/PRNewswire/ -- A report from People's Daily:

Central Asiaserves as a globally significant arid agriculture region. By leveraging their natural resources and geographic advantages, Central Asian nations have implemented strategic policies in recent years to bolster agriculture development, enhance productivity, and expand agricultural exports.

Within this framework,Chinahas steadily deepened agricultural cooperation with Central Asian countries, collaboratively advancing environmentally sustainable and green development practices.

A growing diversity of specialty products fromCentral Asiaare now entering the Chinese market and gaining popularity among consumers, includingKazakhstan'scamel milk,Uzbekistan'scherries,Tajikistan'sdried fruits,Kyrgyzstan'shoney, andTurkmenistan'scotton.

Bilateral agricultural trade betweenChinaand Central Asian countries has experienced robust growth. Data shows that trade in agricultural products betweenChinaand the five Central Asian countries surged from 2.875 billion in 2023 - a 40-fold increase over two decades.

OnMay 21,ChinaandKazakhstansigned a new agreement permitting the entry of Kazakh poultry into the Chinese market. To date, over 2,500 Kazakh agricultural enterprises have secured authorization to export 29 categories of agricultural products toChina.

Kazakhstan, endowed with abundant agricultural resources and robust production capacity, ranks among the world's leading grain exporters. In 2024, bilateral agricultural trade betweenChinaandKazakhstanreached$1.4 billion, a 10.5% year-over-year increase. Notably,Kazakhstan'sexports toChinaalone stood at$1.05 billion, with key commodities including animal feed, grains, oil crops, and vegetable oils. Impressive growth was observed in specific sectors: animal feed exports surged by 485%, vegetable oils rose by 26%, and rapeseed oil exports increased by 57%. In the first quarter of 2025, bilateral agricultural trade hit$430.5 million, marking a 45% increase year on year.Chinanow serves asKazakhstan'slargest market for agricultural exports, solidifying the strategic partnership between the two nations.

To streamline cross-border trade, China Customs has established 8 dedicated"green channels"for accelerated clearance of agricultural products fromCentral Asia, primarily facilitated through land ports. These measures provide robust logistical support for enhancing agricultural exports from Central Asian nations toChina.

Chinais concurrently deepening agricultural science and technology partnerships with Central Asian countries under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Chinese enterprises and universities have collaborated with Central Asian countries to launch demonstration farms and technology centers, significantly improving the quality and yield of local agricultural output.

A notable example is Northwest A&F University, based in northwestChina'sShaanxiprovince, which has co-established 8 overseas agricultural technology demonstration parks withKazakhstan, and other Central Asian countries. These facilities focus on joint efforts in crop breeding, water-saving irrigation systems, and soil enhancement technologies, thereby elevating regional agricultural productivity. Additionally,Chinaprovides onsite training programs, remote technical guidance, and capacity-building programs to empower agricultural professionals.

Professor Zhang Zhengmao of Northwest A&F University, who has conducted field research across 10 regions inKazakhstan, highlighted the country's agricultural potential. He notedKazakhstan'sfertile soils and abundant sunlight - ideal for wheat cultivation - but emphasized that local wheat varieties often lack disease resistance and face issues of lodging."This is precisely where Chinese agricultural research expertise can address regional challenges,"he stated.

To develop wheat varieties better adapted toKazakhstan'senvironmental conditions, Professor Zhang's research team is collaborating with breeding institutions inChina'sGansuprovince and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. They employ a method called cross-regional shuttle breeding, systematically selecting and testing wheat strains across diverse ecological zones to enhance adaptability and productivity.

"Our trials demonstrate that the selected varieties exhibit marked improvements in grain count, kernel weight, and uniformity,"he noted.

The deputy general manager ofKazakhstan'sAiju agro-processing and logistics park inKazakhstannoted that Chinese high-yield wheat varieties have significantly boosted both output and quality of local crops."The products are now exported toChinaand have gained strong market acceptance among Chinese consumers,"he added.

InKyrgyzstan, theChina-Kyrgyzstanfruit breeding technology demonstration park, also established by Northwest A&F University, is focusing on expanding increase apple production.

While apples are a staple fruit inKyrgyzstan, their cultivation is hindered by the country's hot, arid summers. ProfessorZhang Dongof Northwest A&F University and his team, after nearly seven years of research, have developed rootstock-scion combinations through selective breeding.  These hybrids outperform traditional seedlings in water efficiency, survival rate, and yield, increasing output by over 300 kilograms per mu (667 square meters).

"In Uzbekistan, we harnessed the abundant sunlight to introduce solar-powered sprinkler systems and smart irrigation technologies that integrate water and fertilizer delivery,"explained ProfessorZhu Delanof Northwest A&F University.

This system replaced conventional flood irrigation, resulting in a 50% increase in cotton yields, a 50% reduction in water use, and a 40% cut in investment costs,"Professor Zhu revealed.

Kazakh Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov underscoredChina'srole as a vital and expanding market for agricultural exports fromKazakhstanand other Central Asian countries. He highlighted the tremendous potential for deepening agricultural cooperation between both sides, emphasizing mutual benefits in trade and technical exchange.

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SOURCE People's Daily