Hangzhou: A training course titled “Water-Saving Irrigation Techniques in Arab Countries,” organized by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, concluded in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province in the People’s Republic of China. The course was hosted by the Rural Electricity Research Institute of the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources and the Hangzhou Regional Center for Asia Pacific Small Hydropower and included delegations from several Arab countries, including Iraq.

According to National Iraqi News Agency, Hassan Thahir al-Najjar, Deputy Governor of Basra, spoke on behalf of the participating Arab delegations, expressing deep gratitude and appreciation to the government of the People’s Republic of China, as well as the organizers and sponsors of the course. Delegations from Iraq, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Tunisia, and Mauritania participated in the program.

Al-Najjar commended the high scientific and logistical standards of the training program, which featured lectures, workshops, and field visits. These elements allowed participants to gain firsthand insight into China’s experience in water resource management and the effective use of water-saving irrigation technologies. He highlighted the reinforcement of the participants’ conviction in the importance of learning from China’s successful model.

He further noted that the course fostered international cooperation and underscored the necessity of concerted regional efforts to benefit from Chinese expertise in water resource management. The program facilitated the exchange of experiences between China and the participating countries and established communication networks between Arab researchers and Chinese institutions.

Al-Najjar affirmed the continuation of cooperation between China and Arab countries, both participating and non-participating in the course, through future specialized programs aimed at knowledge transfer and national capacity building in Arab countries, particularly in agriculture and water resources.