Published on: 2026-05-28
Source: The People’s Republic of China in Russian –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
Beijing, May 28 /Xinhua/ — Five kilograms of rice — that’s not much. But in the history of China-Guinea agricultural cooperation, they have become a small but tangible testimony to how joint practical efforts improve people’s lives.
A recent sack of hybrid rice, produced in West African Guinea, was handed over to Dan Tse, the wife of the late Yuan Lunpin, the “father of hybrid rice” in China.
The bag itself was unremarkable: on the front side were the flags of China and Guinea, and on the reverse—a handwritten message from the Prime Minister of Guinea, who called this drawing a “symbol of cooperation between Guinea and China.”
Light rice crossed oceans. Its significance lay not in weight, but in the simple fact that Chinese hybrid rice took root in African soil, is grown by local farmers, and helps increase grain yields and the standard of living of people.
The presence of China, especially in Africa, is often characterized not only by short-term aid but also by the provision of experience in the field of development, technological opportunities, and practical methods.
Nowhere is this manifested as vividly as in the Chinese-African agricultural cooperation, which is characterized by pragmatism.
China does not simply send grain; instead, it works with local partners to create irrigation systems, improve crop varieties, combat pests, and increase production capacities. Within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation or the Belt and Road Initiative, support is increasingly focused on agricultural infrastructure, equipment, and supply chains.
In Guinea, Chinese agricultural experts helped create the largest demonstration park of hybrid rice in Africa, where the yield per season is three times higher than that of traditional local varieties.
In Chad, which has long suffered from food shortages, after the introduction of high-yield rice cultivation technologies, the possibility of obtaining income from grain exports is being discussed.
On Madagascar, an image of rice appeared on the banknote with the highest denomination, which is a reference to the work of Yuan Lunpin’s team on increasing crop yields and supporting food self-sufficiency.
Today, Chinese hybrid rice is presented in more than 20 African countries, becoming a vivid example of how agricultural technologies from the PRC take root and flourish in Africa.
Such a situation has historical roots. China itself struggled with poverty and hunger for a long time. This experience increased its sensitivity to similar problems faced by other developing countries and showed that hunger cannot be overcome with a leap, but requires long-term, systematic, and constant work.
This point of view also helps explain the broader cooperation model in the field of development that China adheres to. The idea of “giving a fishing rod, not a fish” is often mentioned in connection with infrastructure projects within the framework of the “Belt and Road” initiative.
Railways, ports, highways, irrigation systems, and energy facilities may not bring immediate benefits, but they change the conditions for growth. Over time, the modernization of infrastructure and improvement of transport connectivity will create real opportunities for development.
Respect is another distinctive feature of Chinese-African cooperation.
Colonial history has led to the economy of many African countries still being built on limited exports, serving external demand. Even after gaining independence, the monoculture continues to restrain the development of many regions.
Today, despite the colonial era being in the past, colonial thinking has not disappeared completely. Part of Western aid is still provided under certain political conditions, and some forms of cooperation primarily serve the strategic interests of Western countries.
In this context, true respect consists not in deciding for others, but in helping them develop the ability to make decisions independently.
International morality does not depend on loud slogans and does not necessarily stem from loud statements. Most often, it is embodied in a road, bridge, well, or rice field — in a continuous process that allows people to lead an increasingly stable and prosperous life every day.
The simple truth is that when a country helps others to have good nutrition, grow food, build roads and improve living standards, its influence grows by itself. That is why a sack of rice from Guinea is the best confirmation of the principles of sincerity, real results, friendship, and goodwill in relations between China and Africa. –0–
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