China and global partners are exploring solutions for strengthening global food security and advancing agricultural innovation at the ongoing 2026 World AgriFood Innovation Conference in Beijing.
The three-day event, kicked off on Thursday, brings together nearly 300 international guests and representatives from more than 30 organizations, research institutes and business groups.
As climate change and other challenges put growing pressure on global agriculture, participants at this year's conference are examining how countries can work together to share, adapt and scale practical solutions. China's progress in agricultural technology is among the experiences attracting attention from international participants.
"China's record speaks for itself. It's pretty incredible, actually. And I think there are huge lessons for the rest of the world, not just for Africa and Latin America, but for everywhere. I think the first lesson is this incredible intensity of focus on this issue -- at a political level, at a technical level and at a community level," said Lawrence Haddad, Executive Director of Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition.
"China is one of the global leaders in innovation and technology. You can see that with robotics, artificial intelligence, machinery and so forth. China can really now have a leading role in helping out. It's everything from having technology like AI technology to help devices, systems to grow, it's also like small machinery that can be used by smallholder farmers," said Lasse Bruun, director of UN Foundation's Director for Climate and Food.
Participants believe stronger international exchanges and cooperation can boost agricultural development.
"Chinese researchers often visit Brazilian research institutes to learn about our work in agriculture and to work together. Many Brazilian researchers also come to China to see the latest agricultural technologies, including Phyto genetics and the use of artificial intelligence," said Oliveira Valle Junior, producer of Brazil's TV Globo.
Turning agricultural innovation into practical solutions for farmers is another major focus.
One initiative launched at the conference aims to bring China's "Science and Technology Backyard" model to more countries.
Under the model, Chinese researchers work directly with local farmers, adapting technologies to local needs while helping develop local expertise.
Similar partnerships have been operating for years across parts of Southeast Asia, Africa and Latin America, with practical benefits for farmers on the ground.
"We introduced Chinese maize-growing techniques to farmers in Africa, helping them increase yields without raising costs. The approach was well received by local farmers, and maize yields increased severalfold, helping address local food security challenges," said Tang Lixia, a professor at China Agricultural University.
2026 World AgriFood Innovation Conference opens in Beijing to tackle global food security
Angola's National Assembly President Adao de Almeida said his landmark visit to China, highlighted by the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two countries' legislatures, will strengthen the two nations' comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership and deepen their traditional friendship and cooperation.
Almeida led a delegation to China from September 9 to 16 at the invitation of China's National People's Congress (NPC). He spoke about the significance of his visit in an exclusive interview with China Media Group.
"First, thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak in this interview about relations between Angola and China. This is my first visit to China as President of Angola's National Assembly at the invitation of China's National People's Congress. It is also the first visit to China by a president of Angola's National Assembly in nearly 20 years," he said.
The visit produced concrete results. On September 11, the two countries' legislatures signed a memorandum of understanding to institutionalize parliamentary exchanges and support broader bilateral relationship.
"Today [September 11], our two sides signed an important document of cooperation, the Memorandum of Understanding between the National Assembly of Angola and the National People's Congress of China. We will establish Angola-China Friendship Groups and also friendship groups of our respective legislatures and make full use of them to facilitate communication and maintain regular consultations on issues of common concern. As you know, [Chinese ] President Xi Jinping and [Angolan] President Joao Lourenco have maintained strategic communication. The memorandum will not only promote exchanges between our two legislatures, but also support our countries' diplomacy and help translate into reality the vision set out by our leaders for bilateral relations," he said.
Looking back over decades of engagement, he underscored China's role as a partner in Angola's postwar reconstruction and the importance he attaches to Chinese investment.
"Since Angola and China established diplomatic relations in 1983, our relationship has continued to move forward with the times. With the end of years of armed conflict and the restoration of peace in Angola during the 2002-2003 period, the bilateral relations deepened further. China became an important partner in Angola's postwar reconstruction, and we need to attach greater importance to Chinese investment in Angola. Our ties have now been elevated to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. This visit is therefore highly significant. It has added a new dimension to bilateral relations through cooperation between our legislatures, while further deepening the traditional friendship and cooperation between our two countries," he said.
Angola lies on the southwestern coast of Africa, bordering the Republic of the Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Zambia to the east and Namibia to the south, with the Atlantic Ocean to its west. Endowed with fertile land, a network of rivers and rich fishery resources, the country relies on oil and diamond mining as pillars of its national economy.
China and Angola established diplomatic relations in 1983, and elevated their ties to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2024.
Angola's parliament president eyes deeper friendship, cooperation with China
