As Myanmar's President Min Aung Hlaing visits China this week, ties between the two countries are once again in the spotlight. Agriculture has long been one of the strongest areas of bilateral cooperation. In southwest China's Yunnan Province, researchers from both countries are working together to boost innovation, productivity and trade. Yang Jinghao reports.
"Continue." - "Now I will suppress the dilution."
In a laboratory in Yunnan, Myanmar researcher April is studying biological control methods for sugarcane diseases. She is spending a year at the Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences as part of an exchange program.
APRIL NWET YEE SOE, Agricultural Researcher from Myanmar "In sugarcane area and other areas, China is very advanced. And I think if I come here, and learn some advanced technologies, and then after I come back, I can contribute to my community and my country."
Sugarcane is one of Myanmar's major cash crops and an important source of income for many families. For April, learning from Chinese researchers is both a valuable opportunity and the start of a longer scientific journey.
APRIL NWET YEE SOE, Agricultural Researcher from Myanmar "Now, I am finding the pathogenic fungi from sugarcane smut infected plants. And then, after I get the pathogenic fungi, I will go to the molecular work for biocontrol."
April's research builds on years of agricultural cooperation between China and Myanmar. Since 2008, the academy has worked with Myanmar partners on sugarcane breeding, cultivation techniques and technology transfer.
ZHAO YONG, Director, Agronomy Center, Sugarcane Research Institute, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences "Through the introduction of our sugarcane varieties and cultivation techniques, average sugarcane yields in Myanmar have increased from 3.8 to 4.5 tonnes per mu."
Higher yields have also strengthened agricultural trade. During the 2025-26 sugarcane crushing season, Myanmar exported more than two million tonnes of sugarcane to Yunnan, creating jobs in Myanmar while supporting for China's sugar industry.
YANG JINGHAO, Kunming, Yunnan Province "Beyond sugarcane, cooperation has expanded to a wide range of crops, including upland rice, soybeans and tropical fruits. It spans the entire agricultural value chain from breeding to quality testing."
At the heart of this partnership is talent exchange. So far, the academy has hosted 14 researchers from Myanmar and dispatched nearly 40 agricultural experts to the country. The next focus is strengthening cooperation on agricultural standards and quality testing.
WANG ZHIYUAN, Director, International Cooperation Department, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences "By enhancing the ability of Myanmar's young scientists to improve standards systems, China and Myanmar can work toward greater compatibility in agricultural standards. This will further facilitate bilateral trade."
As cooperation continues to deepen, China and Myanmar are expected to unlock even greater potential in agricultural development and trade. YJH, CGTN, Yunnan Province.
