China, Pakistan to cooperate on Tropical Arid Non-wood Forest
Sesbania cannabina are seen in Gwadar port. [Photo provided to Gwadar Pro]
GWADAR, Sept. 16 (Gwadar Pro) – The First Meeting of China-Pakistan Technology Exchanges in Tropical Arid Non-wood Forest will be held on October 9-10, in Changsha China and Gwadar Pakistan simultaneously, with a live broadcast on Zoom.
At this meeting, participants will conduct exchanges and discussions on the status quo and future development direction of Jujube plants, Date palm plants and other economic forest plants’ research and utilization in China and Pakistan.
This meeting is organized by the Chinese Society of Forestry (CSF), and its co- organizers consist of Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Economic Forest Branch of CSF, China Overseas Port Holding Company (COPHC) and Yulin Holding.
The technology exchanges activities aim to show achievements and research progress of the two nations in economic forest and promote the experts’ communications and cooperation, according to Zhang Saiyang, vice director of the Belt and Road Engineering Research Center for Tropical Arid Non-wood Forest.
The Belt and Road Engineering Research Center for Tropical Arid Non-wood Forest was jointly set up by Central South University of Forestry and Technology, COPHC and Yulin Holding in January 2021, which aims to boost the economic forest (with both ecological and economic value) and ecological construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
The Pak-China Friendship Forest lies at the foot of the Koh-e-Batil Hill, Gwadar port. [Photo provided to Gwadar Pro]
There is a 4-hectare Pak-China Friendship Forest at the foot of the Koh-e-Batil Hill, Gwadar and Yulin Holding is in charge of its construction.
This forest, a symbol of the friendship between the sister cities of Gwadar and Puyang, Henan Province, China, is jointly built by the two cities and COPHC, the port's operator.
Only a “Green Gwadar” would enable the port to be operated well and bring benefits to future generations of local people, said Zhang Baozhong, chairman of COPHC.
In 2018, COPHC launched a large-scale tree-planting program, aimed to enhance Gwadar’s afforestation and improve the local’s living environment. They have established a plant tissue culture laboratory and a greenhouse to conduct the research, breed and planting of non-wood forest plants here and try to bring more benefits to the local people.
Central South University of Forestry and Technology, COPHC and Yulin Holding have jointly established a plant tissue culture laboratory and a greenhouse to conduct the research, breed and planting of non-wood forest plants in this port.
“We are going to promote the economic forest planting and make contributions to local ecological and economic construction,” said Zhang Saiyang.
Ziziphus jujube are seen at a greenhouse in Gwadar port. [Photo provided to Gwadar Pro]
Phoenix dactylifera are seen in Gwadar port. [Photo provided to Gwadar Pro]
Trees are seen in Gwadar port. [Photo provided to Gwadar Pro]
