Héribert-Label Elisée ADJOVI / Special Envoy to Xi'an
Following the lecture by Mr Xue Bing, Special Envoy of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Horn of Africa, on the fundamentals of China's foreign policy in general and China's African policy in particular, four conferences – two in Yangling and two in Xi'an – complemented Mr Xue Bing's preliminary presentation. Moderated by Professor Wang Hongmei of Northwest A&F University, the first conference-debate focused on ‘The achievements of modern agricultural development in China’. ‘China has made remarkable progress in the development of its modern agriculture, combining technological innovation, structural reform and government support... Agriculture is the direct provider of food security, constituting its first line of defence.’
Agriculture is an important component of the Chinese economy and a stabiliser of economic growth, Professor Wang emphasises. In 2024, the sector's added value reached 94.139 billion yuan, representing 6.5% of the country's gross domestic product. Also last year, in terms of food security and strengthening production capacity, and for the first time in its history, the country surpassed the symbolic milestone of 700 million tonnes of food production (worth approximately 1.4 trillion yuan). In 2025, China reached a new milestone in the modernisation of its agriculture, focusing on technological innovation, food security and rural revitalisation. In terms of food security and grain production, the target of 700 million tonnes of grain per year set in the Ten-Year Master Plan (2024-2035) was achieved, along with the strengthening of food self-sufficiency. This was thanks to improved yields of rice, wheat and soybeans. In terms of smart agricultural technologies, there is the integration of 5G, AI, big data and the Internet of Things into agricultural management. There is also the use of drones for sowing, crop monitoring and pest control, reducing costs and environmental impact. Finally, there is the deployment of BeiDou navigation systems on seeders and ploughs for precision farming. China's agricultural modernisation also includes progress made in genetic innovation and seeds, the modernization of agricultural equipment, sustainable and green agriculture, livestock farming and agri-food processing, as well as training and rural revitalisation. China's Plan for Accelerating the Construction of an Agricultural Powerhouse (2024-2035) includes enhanced technological support, greater industrial integration, more pronounced green development, and more effective rural governance. These advances show that China is not content with simply increasing its production. It is transforming its agricultural model to make it smarter, more sustainable, and more competitive. China's experience in agricultural modernisation can be useful to Africa. However, African countries still need to achieve harmonious integration between cities and rural areas, green development of agriculture, optimisation of industrial structure, and development of cities and rural areas. In short, it is necessary to focus on scientific technology and optimise agricultural structures by multiplying existing models. In conclusion, Professor Wang Hongmei advises: "China has modernised its agriculture by combining local adaptation with integrated reforms - policies, technologies and markets. For Africa, the challenge is to combine these lessons with its own assets - land, labour, biodiversity - while preserving its strategic autonomy to build inclusive and sustainable agriculture. "
"Modern Agricultural Scientific and Technological Innovation and Food Security" Professor Yongzhong Feng of Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University
The second speaker at this seminar for the 50 African experts present in Yangling, Professor Yongzhong Feng argued that the goal of agricultural scientific and technological innovation is to ensure food security for China's 1.4 billion people, while addressing the challenges of climate change, population growth, and arable land scarcity. This constitutes a real security issue. The main agricultural innovations in China concern smart agriculture, biotechnology and genetic selection, advanced mechanization, hydroponics and urban agriculture, digital platforms, and agricultural e-commerce. The strategic objective of agricultural scientific and technological innovation in terms of food self-sufficiency is to reduce dependence on imports through increased yields and crop diversification. The strategic objective of agricultural scientific and technological innovation in terms of climate resilience is to develop crops adapted to extreme conditions and water-saving irrigation systems. The strategic objective of agricultural scientific and technological innovation in terms of loss reduction is to improve logistical preservation and traceability of agricultural products. The strategic objective of agricultural scientific and technological innovation in terms of rural inclusion concerns training farmers and supporting cooperatives to modernize practices. Regarding government support, China provides subsidies to farmers for the purchase of agricultural machinery and supports universities and research institutes to advance technological innovation. It implements rural reforms through rural revitalization through innovation, mechanization, and smart agriculture. It provides training and outreach through the creation of demonstration areas and training centers for farmers.
"The Implementation of Modernization with Chinese Characteristics in Shaanxi," Professor Li Lu, Director of the Research Center for the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at the Shaanxi Institute of Administration
At the outset, the speaker of the third presentation, Professor Li Lu, Director of the Research Center for the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics at the Shaanxi Institute of Administration, defined modernization as "a dynamic, multifaceted, and comprehensive process of progress and transformation from a traditional society to a modern society." In a narrower sense, it refers to industrialization. The threshold of industrialization would then be a defining feature of modernization. In a broader sense, it refers to a historical process of transformation from a traditional agrarian society to a modern industrial society, with industrialization as the fundamental driving force, leading to major reforms in all areas of societal management. Li Lu points out that around 70% of the Western population belongs to the middle class, while only 400 million out of 1.4 billion Chinese have achieved this standard of living. This is why China still considers itself the largest developing country. Promoting Chinese-style modernisation is the most important task assigned to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). At the 20th Party Congress in October 2022, General Secretary Xi Jinping stated that ‘from now on, the central task of the CCP is to unite and lead all ethnic groups in the country’ in the vision of Chinese-style modernisation. Chinese-style modernisation has features common to all other forms of modernisation, as well as features specific to China. It is a large-scale demographic modernisation. It is a modernisation of shared prosperity for all peoples. It is a modernisation in which material civilisation and spiritual civilisation are in harmony (tradition and modernity). It is modernisation based on the harmonious coexistence of man and nature. It is modernisation on the path of peaceful development. It is the path of Chinese-style socialism, which draws on cultural wealth and a culture of peace. This contrasts with Western countries, where modernisation is synonymous with declaring war and confiscating the wealth of other peoples. "In his speech at the ninth FOCAC Summit in September 2024 in Beijing, President Xi Jinping said that Sino-African relations have already entered a strategic level. China and Africa must pursue the dream of modernisation together and serve as a model for the path to modernisation for the Global South and humanity... Modernisation without China and Africa – with a combined population of 2.8 billion – is not modernisation. With the six modernisation goals and ten strategic partnership actions, China intends to build a community with a shared future with its African partners. In this process, Xi'an (western peace) – formerly known as Chang'an (eternal peace) and the capital of China during several Chinese dynasties since ancient times, notably the Qin Dynasty, the Han dynasty and the Tang dynasty - is both the first city in the world where the population exceeded one million, the first Chinese city to open up to the world, the starting point of the ‘Silk Road’ and the birthplace of President Xi Jinping. After the glorious imperial period in Xi'an, Chinese civilisation became less important with the aggression of Western invaders. This situation lasted until the 1930s, when the country was in danger of disappearing. Founded in 1921, the Chinese Communist Party, after 28 years of anti-colonial struggle, won victory and founded the People's Republic of China on 1 October 1949. At that time, Shaanxi, the cradle of Chinese civilisation, was at zero level of development. Chairman Mao Zedong had to implement a policy of external aid. In 1950, China and the USSR established a pact of friendship and mutual assistance, which enabled the development, with the latter's help, of China's first five-year plan. Russian experts proposed 156 major projects and 600 specific projects. At the time, East Germany and a few Eastern European countries also supported China. The first five-year plan provided Shaanxi Province with an industrial base. Several five-year plans followed. Meanwhile, in 1979, China had to end its pact with the Soviet Union and paid a heavy price for this break, despite its precarious economic situation at the time. Seventy-six years after its founding under the banner of the Chinese Communist Party, the People's Republic of China has become the world's second largest economy, with the stated ambition of becoming the largest by 2049, its centenary. Today, Shaanxi Province has become the cradle of Chinese science, culture and civilisation. It plays a strategic role in the implementation of Chinese-style modernisation, in accordance with the directives of President Xi Jinping. During his first official visit in 2012, he called on the region to write a new chapter in this national transformation, through five solid requirements. In terms of technological innovation, President Xi emphasised strengthening scientific research, creating innovation centres in Xi'an and industrialising discoveries. In the field of modern industry, Shaanxi must modernise its traditional sectors while developing strategic industries such as the digital economy and smart services. In terms of balanced urbanisation, the province is encouraged to reduce the gap between urban and rural areas by improving infrastructure and public services in the districts. With regard to ecological protection, the preservation of the Yellow River and the Qinling Mountains is at the heart of environmental efforts, with a transition to a green, low-carbon economy. In terms of international openness, President Xi Jinping has called for Shaanxi to become more integrated into the Belt and Road Initiative by strengthening its logistics and trade capabilities. Since then, he has returned to his native region eight times. Today, Shaanxi is the most innovative province in all of China. It is also a province that is strong in terms of cultural wealth, education, security and law enforcement. The protection and restoration of important ecosystems, such as the Qinling Mountains and the Yellow River, have achieved satisfactory results. On 12 January 2019, the Xi'an National Science Centre and the Technology Innovation Centre were recognised for their contribution to China's scientific and technological advancement and were commended for their efforts. For example, the central sections of the fuselage, wing boxes, ailerons, flaps and control surfaces of the Chinese C919 are manufactured in Shaanxi. On the diplomatic front, the Secretariat of the China-Central Asia Mechanism will be based in Xi'an. This decision was taken at the conclusion of the China-Central Asia Summit held in Xi'an in May 2023. As the starting point of the Silk Road, Xi'an reached the milestone of 3,000 Sino-European train departures in 2024. According to Professor Li Lu, ‘Shaanxi, with Xi'an as its driving force, is set to become a model of regional transformation in western China.
’‘Facilitating cross-border trade and deepening Sino-African economic and trade cooperation,’ Professor Feng Zongxian of Xi'an Jiaotong University
The 50 African experts who came to Xi'an attended a final, fourth conference on facilitating cross-border trade and deepening Sino-African economic and trade cooperation. During his speech, Professor Feng Zongxian said that in November 2014, the General Council of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) adopted the Protocol of Amendment to the Agreement establishing this UN organisation. China is the sixteenth country to accept the Protocol. On 22 February 2017, 112 WTO member countries accepted the Agreement, exceeding the two-thirds majority required under the provisions of the text submitted for consideration by member countries. He reviewed the fundamental content of the Agreement, the actions and results, emphasising that trade protectionism must be combated through trade facilitation. Reference was made, in particular, to American protectionism, as demonstrated recently by the unilateral increase in customs duties on products exported to the United States of America. China, for its part, has taken sixteen measures to improve the commercial environment of ports and facilitate customs formalities. This has been achieved through the construction of smart ports, the simplification of procedures and the establishment of a single window for international trade, involving eighteen Chinese ministries. For example, in Shanghai, China's largest port, 95% of formalities are handled through the single window. This includes model innovation, institutional innovation, technological innovation and service innovation. Professeur Feng Zongxian from Xi'an Jiaotong University, pointed out that China's leading trading partner. With a trade volume exceeding 2,000 billon dollars since the lauch of the 'Belt and Road* Initiative. Africa is the second largest market for Chinese public works contracts, with more than 700 billon dollars, ten major cooperation plans, five major actions and nine projects in various sectors. Professor Feng Zongxian concluded: 'The Sino-African economic and trade partnership is based on the Principles of mutual benefit, shared development and respect for national sovereignty'.