On June 18, the "Experience China" - The First Doctoral Symposium on the Belt and Road Agricultural Science and Technology Collaborative Innovation, hosted by the China Scholarship Council, was held at the Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (GSCAAS). With more than 200 people in total including Prof. Jiang Meilin, Secretary of the Party Committee of GSCAAS, Prof. Wang Wensheng, Deputy Director of the Institute of Crop Sciences, Prof. Zhang Jizong, Deputy Director of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, doctoral supervisors, Chinese and international students, as well as alumni representatives attended the symposium both online and on site.

Prof. Jiang extended a warm welcome to all guests, teachers, students and alumni attending the symposium. She expressed her hope that the symposium would give full play to the disciplinary advantages of GSCAAS, showcase the achievements of the education on international student of GSCAAS in an all-round way, promote interdisciplinary integration and Sino-foreign exchanges, build a brand of high-quality academic exchange for doctoral students of GSCAAS, and demonstrate the charm of agricultural scientific and technological innovation through disciplinary integration, academic discussions and cross-cultural experiences.

The symposium was held in the forms of expert presentations, doctoral student exchanges, expert comments and on-site visits. Prof Nie Fengying delivered a report titled "Belt and Road Agricultural Cooperation Strategy". Chinese and international doctoral students conducted academic exchanges on topics including molecular crop breeding, biological invasion of pests, greenhouse gas effects of long-term fertilization, animal nutrition and breeding, animal disease prevention and control, as well as China-Pakistan trade. The symposium selected the first GSCAAS's "Experience China" Academic Stars and Celebrity Supervisors.

After the symposium, the participants visited the National Crop Genebank and the Park of National Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation. They also held a discussion themed "Me and the Belt and Road" in the conference area of the Innovation Park. Focusing on the Belt and Road Initiative, agricultural scientific and technological innovation as well as personal opportunities, participants further enhanced exchanges, mutual understanding and mutual learning, so as to improve cooperation, tell stories of China and "Study in CAAS" well in serving the high-quality development of the Belt and Road.

This academic symposium is one of the series of "Experience China · Academic Month" events hosted by the China Scholarship Council in 2024. Taking this symposium as an opportunity, GSCAAS will promote the integrated development of national conditions education for international students in China and academic exchanges for doctoral students, provide strong support for international students' learning, growth as well as scientific and technological innovation, and better serve the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the "going global" of agricultural science and technology.