From September 19 to 25, at the invitation of Dr. Atovullozoda Rajabmurod, Director of the Institute of Veterinary Research at the Tajikistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Dr. Orozov Jailobek, Director of the National Institute of Veterinary Research of Kyrgyzstan, Director Zheng Haixue led a delegation of nine members from our institute, China Agricultural Vet Technology Co., Ltd., and Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute Biotechnology Co., Ltd., to visit Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. The primary purpose of this visit was to deepen engagement in and co-build the "Belt and Road" Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan, and to accelerate the implementation of the "International Science & Technology Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAASTIP)" project, hosted by our institute, focusing on the epidemiological study and control of important zoonoses and emerging diseases in Central Asia.

During the visit, Director Zheng Haixue, on behalf of our institute and Lanzhou University, signed cooperation memorandums and joint laboratory co-construction agreements with the Institute of Veterinary Research of the Tajikistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Kyrgyz National Agricultural University. He also unveiled the "China-Tajikistan One Health Joint Laboratory" and "China-Kyrgyzstan One Health Joint Laboratory" co-built by our institute, Lanzhou University, and their Tajik and Kyrgyz counterparts. Additionally, several academic seminars and other foreign affairs activities were conducted. The delegation also visited the Tajikistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the Kyrgyzstan National Food Safety and Veterinary Diagnosis and Monitoring Center, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, and the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan. Through these activities, the delegation achieved fruitful results, discussing high-level cooperation and promoting the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" initiative.

In Tajikistan, on September 20-21 local time, the delegation held meetings with the Tajikistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Institute of Veterinary Research at the Tajikistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences. Professor Amirshoev Faizullo, Vice President of the Academy of Agricultural Sciences, warmly welcomed the delegation and provided a brief overview of the academy's organizational structure, responsibilities, and international cooperation. He expressed hope that our institute could establish vaccine and diagnostic kit production lines in Tajikistan. Dr. Atovullozoda Rajabmurod, Director of the Institute of Veterinary Research, introduced the institute's responsibilities, organizational structure, and the heads of its departments. Dr. Sulaimon Nazrullozoda, Deputy Director, provided a detailed account of the institute's key achievements in international cooperation and the current epidemiological status of major animal diseases and zoonoses that are urgently needed for control at the national level.

Director Zheng Haixue gave a brief introduction to the academic strengths, educational and research programs, and talent training of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, our institute, and Lanzhou University. Both sides reached a consensus on joint project applications, scientific research cooperation, talent exchange, and training. Director Liu Guangliang provided a detailed introduction to the development history, major research fields, achievements, talent cultivation, and key products of our institute, Lanzhou University's School of Animal Medicine and Biosafety, China Agricultural Vet Technology Co., Ltd., and Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Dr. Yan Hongbin, the project manager for CAASTIP, introduced the project's research content and implementation plan. The two sides reached multiple agreements on the joint implementation of the CAASTIP project, the establishment of joint laboratories, and talent cultivation. Finally, Director Zheng Haixue and Director Atovullozoda Rajabmurod signed the cooperation memorandum and joint laboratory co-construction agreement on behalf of our institute and Lanzhou University, and unveiled the "China-Tajikistan One Health Joint Laboratory." A ceremony was also held to donate vaccines and diagnostic kits, and guest researcher and project consultant appointments were presented. The delegation also visited the largest dairy farm in Tajikistan, Aabdurauf Yyusupov Co., to investigate its disease prevention and control practices, as well as its production and management model.

The delegation held meetings, unveiled the joint laboratory, and conducted an on-site visit to the dairy farm, along with a vaccine and diagnostic kit donation ceremony at the Tajikistan Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the Institute of Veterinary Research.

On September 23-24 local time, the delegation visited the Kyrgyz National Veterinary Research Institute, the National Food Safety and Veterinary Diagnosis and Monitoring Center, the National Agricultural University, and the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry in Kyrgyzstan. The discussions revolved around the "Belt and Road" Science and Technology Innovation Plan, joint project application and implementation, platform building and sharing, talent exchange and training, and several consensuses and cooperation intentions were reached. Director Zheng Haixue signed cooperation memorandums and joint laboratory co-construction agreements with President Nurgaziev on behalf of our institute and Lanzhou University. The "China-Kyrgyzstan One Health Joint Laboratory" was also unveiled. At the Kyrgyz National Agricultural University, Director Zheng and other delegation members delivered thematic reports on the current epidemiological status and control techniques of major animal diseases and zoonoses such as foot-and-mouth disease, brucellosis, and lumpy skin disease.

Signing of cooperation agreements, thematic report meetings, unveiling of joint laboratories, and visit to the National Food Safety and Veterinary Diagnosis and Monitoring Center.

During the visit to Kyrgyzstan, the delegation met with Counselor Li Baojie from the Chinese Embassy in Kyrgyzstan. Director Zheng Haixue provided a brief overview of the national positioning, academic layout, and the cross-border animal disease and zoonosis prevention and control cooperation planning and implementation progress in Belt and Road countries. Counselor Li Baojie highly praised the international agricultural science and technology cooperation plans promoted by our institute and emphasized that China-Kyrgyzstan relations are currently at their best in history. He expressed hope that the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Lanzhou University would further enhance high-level scientific exchanges with Kyrgyzstan, promote existing project cooperation, and encourage experts and scholars from multiple fields to visit Kyrgyzstan for exchanges. The embassy would fully assist in supporting the high-quality construction of the Belt and Road initiative and the China-Central Asia community. Director Zheng Haixue noted that Kyrgyzstan, as a key bridge connecting East and West in Central Asia, holds great development opportunities and cooperation potential. Our institute and Lanzhou University would actively respond to the national call, leverage local advantages, and deepen academic research and talent cultivation cooperation.

                                                 Counselor Li Baojie met with the delegation

This 7-day visit witnessed the successful implementation of several important cooperation outcomes between our institute and the two Central Asian countries. Cooperation agreements were reached with relevant research institutions, universities, and administrative bodies in both countries regarding cross-border animal disease and zoonosis prevention and control, vaccine and diagnostic kit registration and sales, innovative cooperation mechanisms, joint laboratory construction, youth researcher exchange programs, and joint training of master's and doctoral students, successfully completing the mission of the visit.