Recently, the China Society of Forest, Animal Husbandry and Fishery Economics (CSFAFE) convened its 2024 Annual Meeting in Hohhot, located within the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. This significant event also featured a symposium entitled "Leading the Modernization of Forestry, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, and Grass Industries with New Productive Forces." The conference encompassed one keynote session and eight specialized sub-forums, all concentrating on the influence and guidance that new productive forces exert in the modernization endeavors of sectors such as forestry, fisheries, and grasslands.

This year's annual conference, acting as a crucial site for scholarly discourse and the development of global partnerships, introduced an exclusive forum tailored for international students. This new platform provided a valuable opportunity for international students to showcase their research and swap intellectual insights. Organized by the International College and the School of Economics and Management, the participation of 21 international students underscored BFU's outstanding accomplishments in nurturing global talent.

The International Students' Forum was inaugurated with an opening address by Wei Houkai, the President of CSFAFE. He extended a warm welcome to the international students and exhorted them to leverage this event as a platform for profound engagement and partnership, aiming at the sustainable advancement of the global forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries economics. A spokesperson from BFU International College likewise urged the international students to fully exploit this opportunity to broaden their global perspectives and promote academic conversations.

The forum was divided into two sessions, each presided over respectively by Professor Li Lingchao from the School of Economics and Management of BFU and Associate Professor Yang Wei from Shanghai Ocean University. Seven international students hailing from diverse countries delved deeply into the central issues in forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries economics, presenting comprehensive analyses and stimulating discussions.

Three BFU international students delivered insightful presentations. Kondwani Damian Chimbayo, a Malawian PhD candidate from the School of Economics and Management, explored the intricate challenges and potential solutions in agricultural modernization in his talk “Exploring the Complexities of Modernizing Agriculture - Addressing Key Issues Beyond Technological Advancements”. Aye Pyone Thi Han from Myanmar offered unique perspectives on sustainable regional strategies in her discussion of "Dual Carbon Initiatives in Southeast Asia: A Strategic Focus on China". Syrian PhD student Majd Aljoman enriched the dialogue with global insights through his report “Introduction to Sustainable Forestry in the Belt and Road Context”. Joined by four international students from China Agricultural University, Shanghai Ocean University, and Renmin University of China who also presented on diverse topics related to the economics of forestry, animal husbandry, and fisheries, these students demonstrated their profound academic knowledge and extensive research scope.

A special session "Hot Issues in Forestry, Animal Husbandry, and Fishery Economics and global Experiences" was part of the forum, led by Professor Gong Yazhen from Renmin University of China. During this segment, international students from diverse countries and regions delved into critical topics within the industries, reflecting on their national contexts. They not only presented their research outcomes and experiences but also discussed ways to enhance international collaboration and collectively tackle sector-specific challenges.

The "International Students' Forum" is recognized not just as a venue for international students to present themselves and share their thoughts, but also as a crucial bridge to enhance international exchanges and collaborations in the forestry, animal husbandry, and fishery economics. BFU International College and the School of Economics and Management are committed to maintaining an open and inclusive academic environment, and aim to intensify connections and cooperation with the global academic community, dedicating efforts to develop top-tier talents equipped with a global outlook and innovative skills.

Written by Ma Yetong, Wei Chunyang
Translated and edited by Song He
Reviewed by Yu Yangyang