On September 11, the opening ceremony of the 2025 Training Programs on the Application of Crop Technology for Poverty Reduction & Modern Animal Husbandry Technology and Management for Pacific Island Countries was held at Changsheng Conference Center in Cangshan Campus of FAFU. Chen Guoquan, member of the Leading Party Members’ Group and Deputy Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office (FAO) of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, and Lai Hairong, Chair of the University Council, attended the ceremony and delivered speeches. The event was presided over by FAFU Vice President Tang Zhenpeng and attended by twenty-nine trainees from five countries—The Republic of Fiji, The Kingdom of Tonga, The Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and The Republic of Vanuatu.
The Opening Ceremony
Speech by Chen Guoquan
On behalf of the China-Pacific Island Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center and FAO of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, Chen Guoquan extended a warm welcome to the participants from the South Pacific Island countries and expressed gratitude to FAFU for its meticulous organization. He put forward three suggestions for further cooperation. Firstly, expanding practical cooperation in agriculture and animal husbandry. Both sides should leverage the technological advantages of Fujian Province, especially those of FAFU, and strengthen the exchange of development experience and project cooperation in agriculture, animal husbandry and poverty reduction for the accelerated development of the South Pacific Island countries. Secondly, deepening the mechanism of sharing and mutual learning of poverty alleviation and development experience. The two sides should engage in in-depth exchanges and draw on each other’s experiences in poverty reduction and development. Such exchanges, he believed, would make a substantial contribution to the poverty alleviation and development efforts made by the Pacific Island countries. Thirdly, enhancing people-to-people and educational exchanges and cooperation. In accordance with the Joint Statement of the Third China-Pacific Island Countries Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, both sides should continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in education, culture, and other fields within the framework of bilateral cooperation. Meanwhile, students from the Pacific Island countries are welcome to study or receive training in Fujian, so as to promote mutual understanding and friendship.
Speech by Lai Hairong
Lai Hairong, on behalf of FAFU, welcomed the leaders, guests, and all the trainees. He expressed gratitude to FAO of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government for its long-term support and introduced FAFU’s development achievements and its close connection with the Pacific Island countries. He noted that the training program includes not only professional lectures but also field visits to enterprises, hands-on practice, and diverse cultural activities, which will facilitate the trainees to gain a better understanding of Chinese culture and Fujian’s local culture, and enhance their technical skills. He hoped this program would broaden and deepen FAFU’s cooperation with the Pacific Island countries in agricultural sustainable development, poverty reduction practices, ecological protection, and other fields, thereby contributing to building a community with a shared future for humanity.
Speech by Pam Ronald
Pam Ronald expressed gratitude to FAO of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government and FAFU for the thoughtful arrangements on behalf of participants in the program of Application of Crop Technology for Poverty Reduction. He hoped to learn from China’s best pratices in green agricultural development, draw on China’s valuable experience and efficient models in agricultural poverty reduction, and apply the technology to promote poverty alleviation and sustainable development in his country.
Speech by Baine Andrew Kewane
Baine Andrew Kewane, representative of the trainees of animal husbandry technology, said that China has accumulated rich experience and technology in poverty reduction, modern agriculture and animal husbandry, and therefore achieved remarkable accomplishments. He hoped to bring advanced concepts and practical technologies back to his hometown through systematic learning. He also looked forward to the in-depth exchanges with professionals from China and the Pacific Island countries to share experiences and explore strategies to meet common challenges.
Participants of the training program at the Ceremony
The “2025 Training Programs on the Application of Crop Technology for Poverty Reduction & Modern Animal Husbandry Technology and Management for Pacific Island Countries” is jointly organized by the China-Pacific Island Countries Poverty Alleviation and Cooperative Development Center and FAO of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, and hosted by FAFU. Both training programs will last for three weeks. With the support of FAO, the center was established at FAFU in 2022. In 2023, the China-Pacific Island Countries Juncao Technology Demonstration Center was inaugurated in Fiji, with its project implementation primarily undertaken by FAFU Juncao experts. The two centers have provided new platforms for exchanges and cooperation between FAFU and the Pacific Island countries in fields such as professional training and agricultural development.
Representatives from the Division of American and Oceanian Affairs of FAO of the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, along with officials from FAFU’s General Office, Office of Scientific & Technological Research, College of Agriculture, College of Animal Sciences, and FAFU faculty and student representatives, attended the ceremony.
Correspondant/Photogragher: Publicity Department Sui Fanghua Gao Yan
Translators: Chen Jun, International College
Hong Bingyu, International College