Hubei Daily App · September 4, 2025

(By correspondents Zhang Zufen, Zhou Jin, and Wang Weixi) On September 3, an unusual “informal talk” unfolded amid the fields of Banzhuyuan Village, Cuijiaba Town, Enshi City, Hubei Province. Fifty African agricultural participants from the Seminar on High-Quality Development of Sesame Industry for African Countries visited the village assistance site of the Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (OCRI-CAAS). The programs are sponsored by the Academy for International Business Officials (AIBO), Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), and the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), and organized by OCRI-CAAS together with the Agricultural Information Institute of CAAS (AII-CAAS).

Following the footpaths between paddies, the trainees immersed themselves in the rhythms of rural China. Serving as their guide, Wang Weixi, the first secretary stationed in the village by OCRI-CAAS, introduced the development of the local selenium-enriched caitai (菜薹) industry. From seed breeding and field management to processing and market access across the entire value chain, his detailed explanations gave the visitors a clear picture of China’s distinctive approach to agricultural industrialization.

The lively field session sparked constant questions and photo-taking. Two topics drew the most attention: whether Banzhuyuan’s climate resembles that of the visitors’ home regions in Africa, and whether selenium-enriched caitai could be successfully grown on African soils—reflecting strong interest in introducing this high-quality crop to the continent.

When they encountered local farmers at work, the African participants greeted them warmly. Villagers answered with cheerful “hello” and “hi,” sometimes mixing in dialect phrases, creating a good-humored “village English” exchange. Despite the language barrier, gestures and smiles bridged the gap, bringing hearts from two continents closer and filling the fields with a friendly, relaxed atmosphere.

This field-side international exchange was like the meeting of seed and soil, nurturing boundless possibilities for China–Africa agricultural cooperation. It conveyed not only the precise transfer of farming know-how, but also a vivid sowing of friendship. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, it showcased the vitality of China–Africa collaboration in agriculture. From China’s poverty alleviation experience to its rural revitalization practices, Chinese solutions are helping unlock Africa’s agricultural potential. On this vibrant land, the harmonious symphony of a shared China–Africa future will surely continue to resound.