Feature: Chinese experts lift Congolese people's hope for food self-sufficiency (2)

CHINA HAND

Ouguala Paul, project manager of the Congolese side, is good at both Chinese language and agriculture, thus playing an important role at the center.

Paul has studied in China for almost 10 years, and has always given generous hands when the Chinese are met with trouble. He often lent the Chinese experts his private motorcycle for travel, while he himself went to work by walking or taking a bus instead.

"To me, it's no big issue whether going to the office by motorcycle or on foot, but to the experts, the motorcycle can help them a lot in their work," said Paul.

In the eyes of You Wen, Paul is a communication genius capable of articulating an idea and figuring out troubles every time, and thus serving as a bridge between the Chinese team and the Congolese.

"Paul is also a person of great patience and carefulness, especially when he revises the study materials that I have translated," You said.

Paul said he was happy to see the center has so far been well operated and lifted the hope for his country to be self-sufficient in food supply.

"People here used to think that only those who have studied in France and the United States are truly well-educated, but now I have showed them that those who have studied in China are equally good, and even more useful to the country," Paul added.

SUBSTANTIAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Data pointed to substantial achievements of the center. Since February 2012, the Chinese experts have sorted out 53 vegetable breeds that are suitable to grow in Brazzaville, including three disease-resistant cassava species.

The center also held experiments and training courses about maize and cassava planting, as well as chicken farming.

"Everybody thumbs up after the training," Maboundou, the Congolese agriculture minister, told Xinhua, praising the project an excellent "example" of the South-South cooperation.

"The sincerity, efficiency and the pragmatic manner of Chinese have impressed me most," he said.

After his visit to the center in 2012, Luc Guyau, independent chairperson of the FAO Council, hailed the project as a "good idea" to effectively help African farmers know the advanced technology and expertise

"Facts have proved that the cooperation between China and Congo is not something in talks or paper documents, but true actions... No one can stop the deepening of relations between the two countries, as well as the development of China," Guyau said.

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