China, Brunei strengthen cooperation on hybrid rice technology

China and Brunei officially launched a hybrid rice senior expert consultant project in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Oct 26. 

Guests pose a group photo at the launch ceremony of the hybrid rice senior expert consultant project in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Oct 26. [photo/Xinhua]

The project, which was initiated by the China International Development Cooperation Agency under the foreign assistance human resource development category, brings together experts from China's Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Company, Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center and Hunan Agricultural University. These experts will give a series of lectures on hybrid rice technology on such topics as breeding, pest and disease control, soil improvement and rice fertilization. Officials from the agricultural sector of the Brunei government, representatives from higher research institutions and experienced agricultural professionals will participate in the training.

Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab, permanent secretary at Burnei's Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, addresses the launch ceremony of the China-Brunei hybrid rice senior expert consultant project in Bandar Seri Begawan, capital of Brunei, on Oct 26. [photo/Xinhua]

Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab, permanent secretary at Burnei's Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, emphasized that the knowledge and expertise shared by the Chinese experts are invaluable in raising Brunei’s development level on hybrid rice. 

Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Xiao Jianguo remarked that in recent years, the agricultural cooperation between China and Brunei has made positive progress. China has proactively aligned with Brunei's needs in trial planting of high-yield hybrid rice seeds and achieved preliminary success. This new project is a reinforcement of the bilateral cooperation in hybrid rice technology, which is expected to contribute more to the development of Brunei's rice industry and ensuring food security, and push Chinese-Brunei agricultural cooperation to a new level, he said.

Brunei, located in the north of Kalimantan and the third largest island in the world, has long relied heavily on food imports. As a result, improving the level of agricultural science and technology and food self-sufficiency has become an important development goal of Brunei.