With support of Chinese ministries, a research center on farming in Africa has been inaugurated at Nanjing Agricultural University, east China's Jiangsu Province.

 

It is the first of the kind in China.

 

The newly established organization will focus its research on major theories and issues in practice concerning agricultural reform and development in Africa. It will provide relevant departments with consultancy and related services for drafting policies on Sino-African agricultural cooperation, said the university sources.

 

The new center will also host training programs entrusted by Chinese ministries of education and commerce to assist African nations via educational efforts, including holding technical training courses and seminars for government officials on advanced studies, and training of African students working for bachelor's or master's degrees in China.

 

The center will also send Chinese agricultural specialists to African countries for opening training courses on China's agro-science, technologies and management expertise.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 9, 2007)