On August 7, the Standardized Livestock Farming Technology Training Workshop for Arab Countries (hereinafter referred to as “the workshop”) was launched in Yinchuan, with over 20 trainees from four Arab countries, including Egypt, Iraq, Mauritania, and Palestine. This workshop was hosted by the Ministry of Commerce, guided and supported by the Department of Commerce of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, and organized by the Forestry and Grassland Ecology Research Institute of Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences. This training aimed to deepen the science and technology exchange and cooperation between China and Arab countries in livestock farming.

  Since its proposal, the Belt and Road Initiative has been widely recognized by the Belt and Road partners, including Arab countries. Cooperation in livestock farming plays an important role in Belt and Road cooperation and international exchanges. Ningxia is one of the major livestock production bases in China. It is identified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of China as a national advantageous area for milk, beef cattle and Tan sheep, which belong to the “six specialty agricultural industries” of Ningxia. The livestock farming takes up 37% of the total agricultural output value of Ningxia, higher than the national average. Ningxia has accumulated rich achievements in standardized livestock farming technology with a broad demonstration effect, contributing valuable “Ningxia experience” to China and the world.

  For many years, Ningxia has actively responded to the Belt and Road Initiative, and has signed several cooperation agreements with Arab countries by platforms such as the China-Arab Technology Transfer Center (CASTTC). To date, the Forestry and Grassland Ecology Research Institute of Ningxia Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences has successfully held 22 training programs with trainees from Arab states, and the total number of trainees has exceeded 380.

  The two-week-long workshop, focusing on improving standardized livestock farming technology and meeting the actual needs of the livestock industry in Arab countries, has been carried out by systematic courses, field visits, and achievement displays, cultural experience, discussions, etc. By doing so, the workshop has aimed to deepen cooperation in livestock farming between China and Arab countries.