NAIROBI, Aug. 14 (Xinhua) -- A symposium on biodiversity conservation and sustainable utilization, alongside the inaugural Kenya grape industry exchange conference, was held on Thursday at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya.
The event was jointly organized by Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, the National Museums of Kenya, the Wuhan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the Institute of Botany of CAS, and hosted by the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center of CAS.
Addressing the conference, Chinese Ambassador to Kenya Guo Haiyan noted tremendous scope to deepen China-Kenya cooperation in agricultural science and technology and to expand collaboration on biodiversity conservation.
"We stand ready to work with all of you to help Kenya accelerate agricultural modernization and advance biodiversity conservation, so that the benefits of scientific and technological innovation may reach more Kenyan farmers, and Kenya's rich biodiversity may continue to bring lasting benefits to its people," Guo said.
Wang Qingfeng, director of the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, said the conference brought together scientists and scholars from China and African countries, providing an opportunity to discuss biodiversity conservation and agricultural development across the African continent.
He also expressed the hope that China and African countries would further strengthen cooperation in areas such as capacity building and scientific research.
Erustus Kanga, director general of the Kenya Wildlife Service, said the conference "brings science into conversation with agricultural innovation", and also creates space for Kenyan and Chinese institutions, researchers, government, communities and industry to "turn knowledge into practical results."
During the event, representatives from biodiversity research institutions in China, Kenya, Egypt, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Madagascar and Zimbabwe also signed a declaration to support the establishment of the Alliance for Biodiversity Science in Africa.
According to organizers, the alliance, jointly initiated by the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center and the National Museums of Kenya, aims to promote long-term practical cooperation in joint scientific research, local talent cultivation, and the sharing of scientific achievements and research data. ■