From June 25 to 27, Zhang Ran, Secretary of the University Party Committee, was invited to attend the 2026 China-Central Asia Industry-University-Research Application Cooperation Conference held in Urumqi. During the trip, she met with some alumni based in Xinjiang and conducted research at Shihezi University and the 8th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps. Li Guangsong, Member of the Standing Committee of the University Party Committee and Vice President, participated in relevant activities.

Staged concurrently with the 9th China-Central Asia Expo, the 2026 China-Central Asia Industry-University-Research Application Cooperation Conference themed Digital Intelligence Empowers Education, the Silk Road Connects the Future. The conference aims to advance the implementation of the consensus reached by heads of state at the Second China-Central Asia Summit and outcomes of the First China-Central Asia Education Ministers’ Meeting, further deepen bilateral and multilateral mechanisms for educational exchange and cooperation, and build a platform for sharing experience and exchanging information on educational development. As a co-organizer of the Special Seminar on AI-enabled Green Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Development & Exchange Conference on Agricultural Science and Technology for Poverty Reduction, our university took part in the event. At the seminar, Zhang Ran held in-depth discussions with participants on international cooperation and digital intelligence talent cultivation in areas including AI-enabled green agriculture and smart agriculture, reaching consensus on advancing further collaboration. During the conference, Zhang Ran engaged in thorough exchanges with Xie Shuqing, Party Secretary of Xinjiang Agricultural University, and Dong Zhaoxia, Deputy Party Secretary of Xinjiang Agricultural University, agreeing on concrete measures to implement the strategic cooperation agreement between the two institutions.

While in Urumqi, Zhang Ran conducted research at the Xinjiang Innovation Base of the State Key Laboratory of Wheat Breeding, visited and extended condolences to Xinjiang alumni, and held a forum with alumni representatives. The forum proceeded in a warm and lively atmosphere, bringing together alumni working across various sectors who have taken root in all parts of Xinjiang. The alumni shared their striving journeys of settling down and contributing to borderland development, and expressed sincere gratitude for their alma mater’s cultivation. Centering on three themes—reminiscing shared friendship, celebrating the university’s anniversary, and boosting mutual development, Zhang Ran delivered sincere greetings and best wishes to all Xinjiang alumni, and briefed them on the university’s progress in striving for world-class discipline status. She stated that the university will keep building a two-way empowerment platform linking the university and its alumni to provide solid backing and robust support for alumni’s career growth. She encouraged Xinjiang alumni to cherish their bond with Shandong Agricultural University, stand by and support one another, and act as a bridge connecting the alma mater and Xinjiang. She also extended a heartfelt invitation to all Xinjiang alumni to return to the university during its anniversary celebrations to renew teacher-student and classmate bonds and jointly mark the university’s 120th founding anniversary.

At Shihezi University, Zhang Ran held talks with Xu Shandong, Party Secretary of Shihezi University. Xu Shandong noted that Shandong Agricultural University boasts a profound educational heritage and comprehensive disciplinary strengths, whose advanced school-running experience is well worth learning from. He expressed hope for deeper two-way cooperation, leveraging Shandong Agricultural University’s abundant scientific and educational resources and strong innovation capacity alongside Shihezi University’s unique geographical advantages and extensive practical application scenarios to advance resource sharing and collaborative innovation, realize complementary strengths and win-win outcomes, and jointly contribute to the national strategy of agricultural modernization through joint university efforts. Zhang Ran spoke highly of the fruitful achievements made by Shihezi University in running schools on the borderland and serving local economic and social development. She remarked that 2026 marks the 120th anniversary of Shandong Agricultural University and a pivotal year for the university’s full sprint toward national Double First-Class initiative development. She hoped the two universities would continue to deepen all-round, multi-level and wide-ranging exchanges and cooperation, expand collaboration dimensions, establish regular exchange and cooperation mechanisms, and drive high-quality development of both institutions. The two sides had thorough exchanges on Party building and ideological and political work, disciplinary development, and internal institutional governance of universities.

Subsequently, Zhang Ran held talks with E Hongda, Party Secretary of Shihezi City of the 8th Division of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, Political Commissar of the 8th Division and Director of the Standing Committee of the Shihezi Municipal People’s Congress. She investigated the development of modern agriculture industries in Shihezi City under the 8th Division, and conducted field inspections at a series of sites: the smart water-saving agriculture project of Lian No.1, Regiment 143; Tianjiaohongan Seed Industry Base; Tiejian Huide Modern Facility Agricultural Industrial Park; and Tianye Moguhu Modern Water-Saving Agriculture Demonstration Base. The two sides discussed matters related to joint university-local cooperation and construction.