Niyokwishimira Alfred, born in 1979, from Burundi. In 2016, supported by the Chinese Government Scholarship, he entered the Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GSCAAS) to pursue a doctoral degree in Preventive Veterinary Medicine. During his studies, he received the High-level Paper Award for the 2018–2019 academic year from the Graduate School of CAAS and Chinese Government Scholarship for Outstanding International Students in China in 2019. After earning his PhD in 2020, he was appointed as the President of the National Academy of Agriculture of Burundi. In 2023, he was honored with the first Outstanding Alumni Award by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Studying in China: Experiencing the Charm of Chinese History, Culture, and Agricultural Science and Technology

Niyokwishimira Alfred's deep appreciation for Chinese history and culture stems from his study experience in China. He aspired to experience the profound depth of Chinese culture and was captivated by the richness and diversity of its history. Recognizing the development and innovation capacity of agricultural science and technology in China, he came to study at the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 2016 with the support of the Chinese Government Scholarship.

He particularly values China's advanced experience and achievements in areas such as animal disease prevention and control, crop cultivation techniques, and agricultural biotechnology, and holds deep admiration and respect for China's agricultural science and technology and its accomplishments. He expressed that he is honored to have fulfilled his dream of completing his doctoral studies at the premier academic institution for agricultural scientific research in China, achieving leapfrog growth on his scientific research path. This not only helped him achieve fruitful results in his research career but also left a profound imprint on his social practice. His study experience in China has shaped who he is today and has also promoted the agricultural science and technology cooperation and exchange between China and Burundi.

 Striving for Excellence: Applying Knowledge and Gaining Wide Recognition

 Niyokwishimira Alfred cherished the opportunity to study in China, actively participated in academic and social practice activities, worked diligently, achieved excellent results, and attained substantial research accomplishments. During his doctoral studies, he was engaged in research on the interaction between Peste des Petits Ruminants Virus (PPRV) and host cells, achieving a series of innovative results. As a first author, he published two SCI journal papers in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases and Virologica Sinica, and as a co-author, he published multiple papers in international journals of repute such as Viruses, Journal of General Virology, and Frontiers in Veterinary Science.

 He utilized the rapid detection technology for PPRV to test for the virus in Burundi, confirming for the first time the presence of PPRV in the country and analyzing the source of the virus. This provided scientific and technological support for the Burundian government in formulating an emergency plan for the PPRV outbreak, preventing the spread of a major animal disease and the risk of cross-border transmission. This outstanding contribution was highly commended by the Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Livestock of Burundi, who issued him a Certificate of Scientific and Technological Merit.

 In November 2019, as one of the 10 young African scientist representatives invited by the African Union, he participated in and presented a keynote report at the 2nd Global Research & Technology Forum on Small Ruminants held in Nairobi, Kenya. He received the High-level Paper Award for the 2018–2019 academic year from GSCAAS and Chinese Government Scholarship for Outstanding International Students in China in 2019. In September 2023, as an outstanding representative of over 800 international alumni of the Graduate School, he was honored with the first Outstanding Alumni Award by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.

Grateful to Alma Mater: Promoting Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation and Exchange between China and Burundi

Niyokwishimira Alfred is grateful for the cultivation he received at CAAS and from his supervisor, and he is proud to be an alumnus of CAAS. "Under the guidance of Professor Zhang Zhidong, I have gained a new understanding of advocating for international cooperation. The achievements I have made would not have been possible without the care and support of my teachers in GSCAAS and the professional guidance of my supervisor."

 After being appointed the President of the National Academy of Agriculture of Burundi, he utilized the knowledge and experience gained in China to actively promote the development of scientific and technological innovation in Burundi's agriculture and animal husbandry, the protection of animal and plant resources, and crop seed production and utilization, achieving remarkable successes and making positive contributions to promoting cooperation between China and Burundi in areas such as animal disease prevention and control.

 He is actively engaged in cooperation and exchange with CAAS. In November 2023, he warmly received a visiting delegation from GSCAAS and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation between GSCAAS and the National Academy of Agriculture of Burund, in the presence of guests including Fang Guoqing, Minister-Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Burundi. He was also invited to attend the Second China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation Forum held in Sanya, Hainan province.

 In December 2023, the "China-Burundi Joint Laboratory on Vector-Borne Animal Disease Control and One Health" jointly proposed by the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of CAAS and the National Academy of Agriculture of Burund received approval and was established with funding from the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.

In January 2024, he led a delegation to visit CAAS, and also toured veterinary pharmaceutical manufacturing and meat product processing enterprises in Shandong and Henan provinces, further advancing cooperative exchanges between Burundi and China's science, technology and industrial sectors. He noted that this visit marked his first time back to his alma mater after graduation, allowing him to personally experience the new developments in China's agricultural science and technology and at his alma mater. He expressed admiration for the innovations and achievements in agricultural science and technology at CAAS. He looks forward to deepening further cooperation under the framework of the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance, recommending outstanding international students to pursue advanced studies in China, and working to elevate bilateral cooperation to a new level.