AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE WITHOUT BORDERS: KAZAKHSTAN AND CHINA CREATE A CENTER AT KOZYBAYEV UNIVERSITY

Linked by a thousand years of history, a shared border, and mutual respect, Kazakhstan and China have built more than just diplomatic relations. They have established a strong foundation for a real strategic partnership.During the Kazakhstan–China Business Council meeting, attended by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and the First Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China and member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, Ding Xuexiang, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to establish a Scientific Agricultural Center at M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, with the document being signed by the Chairman of the Board – Rector of M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, Yerbol Issakayev, and the Director of Aiju Corporation, Jia Jing.

The Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, attended the official ceremony. This highlights the special importance of the initiative for the development of the national system of higher education and science.Aijiu Corporation, founded in  1934, is one of China's leading enterprises in grain and oilseed processing. Since 2015, the company has been actively participating in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. Within the framework of coordination with Kazakhstan's "Bright Path" program, it has carried out a number of strategically important investment projects. One of them is the establishment of a modern production facility – Taiynsha Mai LLP in the North Kazakhstan Region. This project has become a vivid example of mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthening economic ties and food security between the two countries. The signed memorandum is more than just a new stage of cooperation. It lays the foundation for the development of a unique research and educational partnership between M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, Aijiu Corporation, and China's Northwest A&F University (with which the North Kazakhstan University has been cooperating since 2017).

In the future, this creates a platform for introducing advanced agricultural technologies. It will also help train highly qualified specialists, attract investment, and increase the competitiveness of Kazakhstan's agricultural sector internationally. The Kazakh-Chinese Scientific Agricultural Center at the North Kazakhstan university will support research, education, and innovation in oilseed crops (like rapeseed, flax, and sunflower) and their processing. The center is being created as a multi-functional platform for: carrying out research and breeding programs; training and retraining personnel for the region's oil processing industry; introducing modern agricultural technologies into production; providing laboratory support for oilseed processing; and testing and commercializing innovative technologies with future export potential. All of this will boost the development of the agricultural sector in the Northern region of Kazakhstan.