BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 30. Uzbekistan and China
discussed expanding cooperation in agricultural science,
biotechnology and sustainable farming during a meeting between
Uzbekistan's Agriculture Minister Ibrohim Abdurahmonov and a
Chinese scientific delegation.


This was reflected in the statement by the Ministry of
Agriculture of Uzbekistan.


The Chinese delegation was led by Fu Gao, director of the
Academic Committee at the Institute of Microbiology of the Chinese
Academy of Sciences, and Li Xiaomin, vice president of Zhejiang
University.


The talks focused on applying advanced scientific research to
agriculture, deepening joint research efforts and expanding
bilateral cooperation in agrarian science.


"The parties discussed prospects for implementing joint projects
in agricultural biotechnology, remote monitoring, soil fertility
improvement, drought-resistant crop varieties, water-saving
irrigation technologies and measures to combat salinization and
desertification," the ministry said in a statement.







The two sides also reviewed ongoing cooperation with the
Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy
of Sciences. Current projects in Uzbekistan's Aral Sea region
include land restoration, cultivation of salt-tolerant plants and
the introduction of smart irrigation technologies in cotton
production.


The discussions also covered opportunities to strengthen
cooperation with China's leading universities and research
institutions to support innovation and scientific development in
Uzbekistan's agricultural sector.


Members of the Chinese delegation also recognized Abdurahmonov's
internationally acknowledged research in plant biology,
particularly cotton genetics, and noted his contribution to the
clinical trials of the ZF2001 COVID-19 vaccine.


According to the ministry, the meeting marked another step
toward expanding Uzbekistan-China cooperation in agricultural
science, innovation and biotechnology through new joint research
and development projects aimed at modernizing the country's
agricultural sector.