Henan Province is typical of China's efforts in agricultural technology transformation, with cutting-edge technologies like drones and artificial intelligence leveraged to boost wheat production and ensure a more sustainable future for its farmers.
Li Jie, a farmer and also the planting director of Henan Weiliang Agricultural Investment Company, has been using drones to spray pesticide and monitor his wheat crop.
Equipped with multi-spectral cameras, the drone captures detailed images of the field, allowing him to identify areas affected by disease or nutrient deficiencies.
"Now I can save a lot of manpower and material resources. This can be controlled remotely by mobile phone so that watering and fertilizing can be done anytime and anywhere to ensure the leafing and growth of wheat and achieve a maximum yield of the crops," said Li.
Besides drones, precision technologies, including soil sensors, GPS guided tractors and AI-powered analytic platforms, have also facilitated agricultural development in Henan and other places in China. "When we plant wheat, we will use large agricultural machines to do deep tillage. We do it every two or three years," said Zhou Fuqiang, an agronomist.
These tools are helping farmers to optimize irrigation, reduce fertilizer use and increase yields, while minimizing environmental impacts.
Experts have expressed their eagerness to share their extensive knowledge and innovative techniques with African farmers.
"Of course, I hope to introduce the skills I have mastered to our friends in Africa," said Professor Ru Zhengang of the Henan Institute of Science and Technology.
The shared experience in increasing wheat yields and adapting crops to climate change is expected to position China as a valuable partner for African nations to overcome agricultural challenges.
Henan typical of China's agricultural technology transformation
Henan typical of China's agricultural technology transformation
Germany's conservative bloc Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) on Wednesday agreed on a coalition deal to form a new federal government after weeks of negotiation.
Following the coalition agreement, Friedrich Merz from CDU/CSU is expected to be elected chancellor next month.
Calling the agreement "a strong plan with which we can jointly move our country forward again," Merz said at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon that it is also a clear signal that Germany is getting a government capable of acting and strong in action.
Weeks ahead of the agreement, the CDU/CSU and the SPD had succeeded in amending the Basic Law to loosen the "debt brake" limits on infrastructure and national defense investments.
The future government will reform and invest to keep Germany stable, make it more secure, and make it economically stronger again, and Europe too can rely on Germany, Merz said.
The new coalition government will seek to implement measures such as lowering the corporate income tax and reducing the electricity tax to the European minimum level to improve the competitiveness of the German economy, said Merz.
In addition, the new government will adopt a new course in migration policy, including measures on enhancing border controls, rejecting asylum seekers, and stepping up the efforts to deport illegal immigrants.
Immigration had become a key topic during Germany's federal election campaign earlier this year.
Germany is and remains a country of immigration, said Lars Klingbeil, co-leader of the SPD, adding that the country protects the rights of citizens with a migration background.
Klingbeil vowed to invest more in securing jobs, attracting talents and providing housing, as well as scrapping excessive bureaucracy to improve government efficiency.
On the U.S. tariff measures, Merz has called for a common European response, as well as efforts to restore Germany's competitiveness and create new jobs.
The key message to U.S. President Donald Trump is that "Germany is back on track," he said, noting that Germany will fulfill its obligations in terms of defense, and it is willing to strengthen its own competitiveness.
"That is not just Germany," Merz said, stressing that Germany will again be a very strong partner within the European Union.
German parties agree to form new gov't after weeks of negotiation
