Sino-Spanish Greenhouse Center Set upThe Sino-Spanish Demonstration Center for Agricultural Greenhouse Technology, a cooperative project between the Chinese and Spanish governments in agricultural technology, was set up in Tianjin on June 27. The visiting Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar attended the inaugurating ceremony of the center.The greenhouse technology is as known a very important part for China to realize its modernization in agriculture. Spain is at the forefront of greenhouse technology in the world. To this end, the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology signed a long-term cooperation project- the greenhouse center with the Spanish Foreign Ministry in November 1998. The cooperation period is defined to be of four years, in which the Spanish government donated four million US dollars to cover the expenditure of Spanish experts in China, Chinese personnel to study in Spain, greenhouse infrastructure, experiment apparatus, office expense and training cost. After more than a year's preparation, the center has practically been set up, including office building, experiment, training sectors and 16 greenhouse blocks, an area totaling 2.5 hectares. Up to now, the greenhouse has grown nine species of Spanish tomato, one species of pimento, cucumber and muskmelon. All 32,000 vegetable plants are growing well and have borne fruit. The center will sum up know-hows in greenhouse technology which can adapt to China's situation in agriculture and disseminate them all over the country. |
| People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/ |