The China (Xinjiang)-Central Asia Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance was launched in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, on Sept 29.

Initiated by the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the alliance brings together 73 domestic and foreign universities, research institutes, and enterprises to create a collaborative innovation community for agricultural science and technology and to support the coordinated agricultural development among countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The alliance will focus on smart agriculture, germplasm resources, water-saving irrigation, saline-alkali land remediation, and green and low-carbon technologies by promoting joint research, technology transfer, and industrial incubation.

Alifu Aierxi, vice-president of the Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the academy's establishment. Through continuous collaboration they have observed a strong demand from Central Asian countries for China's crop varieties and agricultural technologies.

He said the geographical proximity and similarities in natural and cultural environment between Xinjiang and Central Asia have helped enhance and expand such cooperation.

By initiating the alliance, the Xinjiang academy aims to boost exports of locally developed crop varieties and agricultural facilities and integrate the strengths and resources of domestic research institutions to bridge collaboration between Central Asia and other regions of China, he added.

In a video speech, Namazov Shadman Ergashovich, director of Uzbekistan's National Center for Knowledge and Innovation in Agriculture, noted that his center and the Xinjiang academy have made progress in addressing climate change by breeding high-yield and stress-resistant crop varieties and by developing drought-resistant and water-saving technologies.

Kanatbek Abdrakhmatov, head of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, said in a video speech that the initiative reflects a shared commitment to seeking innovative solutions, strengthening sci-tech cooperation, and promoting sustainable development.