As one of the major celebration functions for the centennial of the elite China Agricultural University (CAU), the world college president forum, opened in Beijing Friday, and Chinese State Councillor Chen Zhili addressed the meeting.

"As China enters into a new phase of modernization development, the Chinese government has placed the solution to problems relating to agriculture, rural villages and farmers on its priority agenda," Chen said.

The development of modern agriculture will serve as the engine of China's sustainable development, which poses unprecedented challenges as well as opportunities to the higher education of the industry, Chen acknowledged.

She expressed the hope that the reform and development of China's agricultural higher education should draw on the world's advanced experience in this regard and conduct broader and in-depth cooperation with other countries.

In the past century, the CAU has gained its international reputation in advanced agricultural technology, and 55 academicians have studied or worked at the CAU.

Source: Xinhua