On April 21, 2025, the “Belt and Road” China-Pakistan Horticulture Research Workshop was held at the College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences, Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU). The event was hosted by HZAU and jointly organized by the National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops, the Wuhan (China-Pakistan) Belt and Road Joint Laboratory for Horticultural Crop Germplasm Innovation and Utilization, the China-Pakistan Horticulture Research and Demonstration Center (CPHRDC), and the Joint International Research Laboratory of Germplasm Innovation and Utilization of Horticultural Crops.

The workshop brought together experts and scholars from the University of Agriculture, Faisalabad (UAF), and Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), who engaged in in-depth discussions on critical areas such as postharvest management, germplasm innovation for citrus and strawberries, sustainable production systems, and urban horticulture. The successful exchanges during the workshop marked an important step toward advancing practical, efficient cooperation between China and Pakistan in horticultural sciences.

At the opening ceremony, Professor Zhang Bin, Vice Dean of the College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences at HZAU, emphasized the importance of collaborative innovation and the urgent need to address global challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss. He pointed out that joint platforms play a crucial role in strengthening scientific research, promoting development, and enhancing capacity-building in the field of horticulture.

During the event, research teams from both countries held intensive discussions and formulated a long-term cooperation roadmap. Plans were proposed to strengthen collaboration in scientific research, talent cultivation, and technology transfer. Specific collaborative projects put forward included postharvest preservation technologies, citrus germplasm innovation and simplified cultivation techniques, vegetable breeding and cultivation, rooftop horticulture for urban sustainability, and the integration of traditional landscape design with modern GIS and remote sensing technologies.

In his closing speech, Professor Liu Yongzhong of HZAU emphasized that enduring international research cooperation must be based on mutual trust, shared goals, and strategic alignment. He proposed that both sides should work together to apply for various cooperation projects and deepen collaborative research on shared challenges facing the horticultural industries of both countries.

After the workshop, the Pakistani delegation visited Yichang and Chengdu for field inspections, gaining in-depth insights into China’s latest advancements in horticultural research, industrial development, and value-added production. These visits are expected to provide practical references and open new pathways for future China-Pakistan cooperation.

This workshop not only showcased the depth and breadth of cooperation between China and Pakistan in the field of agricultural science and technology but also demonstrated the two sides’ shared commitment to promoting the modernization and sustainable development of horticulture within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Source: HZAU News