## Xinjiang Establishes Dual International Bio-Breeding Facilities to Bolster BRI Agricultural Innovation
Aksu, Xinjiang has officially launched two new international bio-breeding laboratories, signifying a major advancement in agricultural science and technology collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). These facilities are designed to enhance cross-border research partnerships and drive innovation in crop breeding across Silk Road nations.
The inauguration occurred during a specialized cotton academic forum in southern Xinjiang on June 16th. This event convened over 280 experts, scholars, entrepreneurs, and industry representatives from BRI partner countries. Forum discussions centered on the latest developments in cotton bio-breeding and seed industry progress, with a unified objective of boosting international knowledge exchange and industrial advancement. One of the newly opened laboratories is an international joint research platform.
This platform, anchored at Xinjiang Agricultural University, involves collaboration with six international universities – including the Russian State Agrarian University and the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in Pakistan – alongside two prominent Chinese seed enterprises. The laboratory spans multiple disciplines such as crop science, grassland science, and plant protection. It operates under a model described as “Chinese technology output with foreign resource integration,” aiming to provide distinct advantages in germplasm resource sharing and transnational breeding innovation.
The second laboratory was co-founded by Xinjiang Agricultural University and a leading Chinese seed company, with a specific focus on bridging academic research with industrial application. Supported by advanced infrastructure, including a supercomputing research center and a crop genetic improvement base, this lab is positioned to emerge as a pivotal innovation hub for bio-breeding within the arid regions of Northwest China. It is also envisioned as a catalyst for high-quality agricultural development aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative.
