Xinjiang Agriculture University China and University of Agriculture Faisalabad have agreed upon work jointly on the project of heat tolerant cotton and wheat varieties.

It was discussed at a meeting of UAF Vice Chancellor Dr Zafar Iqbal Randhawa and Chinese delegation led by Vice Dean Faculty of Agriculture Xinjiang Agriculture University Dr Chen Quanjia. UAF Registrar Muhammad Hussain, Vice Chairman UAF Confucius Institute Dr Ashfaq Ahmad Chatha, Treasurer Tariq Saeed, Director Research Dr Zahir Ahmad Zahir. Director External Linkage Dr Rahseed Ahmad, Plant Breeding and Genetics Chairman Dr Hafeez Sadaqat, Dr Fahad Rasul and Chinese team including Confucius Institute Dean Dr Yang Zhijiang, Dr Geng Hongwie, Dr Sheng Jiafond and others notables attended the meeting. It was agreed to identify the genes for heat tolerant and breeding of the new verities. Talking to delegation, Dr Zafar Iqbal said that under the Confucius Institute, UAF, as many as 7000 students had learned the Chinese language. He added Pakistan-China agriculture ties were being more strengthened that will help address the issue of poverty alleviation and productivity enhancement. He suggested including skilled manpower and technician training section in the China Pakistan Economic Corridor as a move towards prosperity. He said that Alumni club of China will be established and a grant conference with Chinese counterparts will be held that will improve the agriculture situation and help learn from each other experiences. Dr Yang said that Confucius Institute UAF is used as its headquarter and universities including Karakoram International University, GC University Lahore, UET Lahore, Government College Women University are teaching Chinese under the headquarter. He said that CI is not a place of language learning but also increases the people-to-people between the both countries and it will help the boost different spectrum including trade, education, and other bilateral relations . Dr Asfhaq Ahmad said China had developed modern irrigation system on which our scientists were learning from them. He added that collaborative work on heat and drought resilient cotton and wheat varieties, Jujube, other fruits and vegetable would pave a new horizon of development. He said that under the Confucius Institute, as many as 300 students and faculty members were sent in China for education.