Courtyard gardens and cocoons

In a letter of recommendation, the college thanked the Chinese instructors for their hard and conscientious work, and requested they continue their work at the college this coming term, stating that based on their research and teaching, they will make great achievements.

For the upcoming college term starting next month, An and Du have suggested establishing a mulberry development and research center, with investment in basic facilities, including humidity controllers, thermometers, a mulberry leaf cutting machine and silkworm appliances.

An says that although there is a long history of farming silkworms in Ethiopia, sericulture there is still in an early phase, and there is much room for improvement.

Ethiopia is just part of the bigger picture of the Chinese government's agricultural cooperation with Africa. For years, China has been dedicated to the upgrading of farming technology on the continent.

Over the past decade, about 24 agricultural technology demonstration centers have been established by Chinese experts across Africa, according to data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs.

They are pivotal in advancing agricultural technology, successfully transferring over 300 agricultural techniques, a process that has increased crop yields by about 30 to 60 percent, benefiting more than 1 million farmers.

The trade volume of agricultural products between China and Africa last year is expected to exceed $10 billion, nearly double that of a decade ago, and the goal for the next decade is to surpass $20 billion, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Meanwhile, China is ready to explore further pathways of agricultural cooperation, and work with the international community to help the continent achieve the goals set out in the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the Comprehensive African Agricultural Development Programme to advance modern agriculture.

To help agricultural modernization, China aims to focus on initiatives to increase production capacity of crops, carry out innovative cooperation programs in agricultural science and technology, and set up demonstration projects on poverty reduction.

In respect of personnel exchange, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has sent 542 agricultural experts, like An and Du, over the course of 23 terms, to countries like Ethiopia, and had trained more than 10,000 managerial and technical personnel in Africa as of last year.

An and Du received a certificate issued by the Chinese embassy in Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Ministry of Labor and Skills for their excellent performance during the last university term.