Recently, a three-person team led by Lei Hao, the Deputy Dean of the Academy for International Business Officials, MOFCOM (AIBO), conducted a research visit to BFU. The meeting was attended by Li Xiong, the Vice President of BFU, along with the leading figures from the School of Economics and Management, the College of Forestry, and the International College, as well as managers of foreign assistance projects. The head of the International College presided over the meeting.

Li Xiong extended a warm welcome to Lei Hao and his delegation, expressing gratitude for the enduring support and counsel provided by AIBO concerning BFU's China-aid endeavors. He underscored the university's dedication to China-aid training, noting its extensive history and profound expertise within the domain, particularly as the sole entity in forestry offering both degree programs and short-term training initiatives. With AIBO's support, BFU's instructional programs abroad have achieved augmented success, drawing students from an increasingly diverse array of nations whose backgrounds are more congruent with the program objectives. BFU intends to further refine its appraoch by leveraging resources both within and outside the university to excel in pedagogy, practical application, student governance, and auxiliary services, with the ambition of solidifying a prominent standing in the realm of forestry China-aid training.

Lei Hao indicated that the purpose of the visit was to amass evaluative feedback on the organization and administration of China-aid programs, with the objective of enhancing subsequent endeavors. He lauded BFU for its substantive expertise and meticulous contributions to the global comprehension of Chinese forestry practices. He advocated that China-aid training ought to concentrate on resolving the fundamental inquiries of "who executes the work, what tasks are undertaken, and the methodologies employed." Underscoring the significance of team cohesion, he recommended the formation of teams dedicated to project management, pedagogy, and support services, with the aim of excelling in fostering amity, disseminating wisdom, narrating China's forestry narrative, and promoting collaborative ventures.

At the roundtable,  the individual responsible for China-aid programs at the School of Economics and Management provided a detailed account of the institution's historical and present engagements in China-aid initiatives. The presentation emphasized the deployment of the Master's program in Forestry Economics and Policy in recent years, alongside the strategic planning for future China-aid activities. Leaders and project coordinators from the School of Economics and Management, the College of Forestry, and the International College engaged in an in-depth dialogue concerning various aspects of China-aid training. These included the management of student admissions, enhancement of teaching credentials, curriculum development, financial allocation, fostering students' appreciation and camaraderie towards China, and the sustenance of alumni networks. Consensus was achieved on the significance of the Ministry of Commerce's China-aid educational projects in augmenting BFU's capacity for international education and in advancing its ambition to attain the status of a premier global forestry university.

Following the meeting, Lei Hao and his group conducted an inspection of the residential facilities designated for the students of the China-aid degree programs.

Since its authorization by the Ministry of Commerce and the State Forestry Administration in 2005, BFU has launched China-aid programs aimed at advancing forestry, ecology, and related sectors within developing nations. To date, the initiative has culminated in the successful fulfillment of 23 short-term training and 7 academic degree programs, drawing participants from over 70 developing countries across six regions: Asia, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, North America, South America, and the Pacific. These endeavors have collectively provided training to 685 officials, experts, technicians, and professionals from the developing world, all specializing in forestry or related disciplines.