Nine Nations, One Mission: Beijing Seminar Participants Take China’s Lessons Home

... Odita Says Training has created bonds that will last a lifetime

Participants at the international seminar on Fruit Processing and Comprehensive Utilization for Belt and Road Countries have praised China’s hospitality, technological innovation and organisational discipline, describing the two-week programme in Beijing as a transformative experience.

Speaking on behalf of the participants at the closing ceremony, Odita Sunday-Udemaguna said the seminar had brought together participants from nine countries and created lasting professional and personal relationships across continents.

The seminar, held from August 4 to 17, 2026, brought together delegates from Jordan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Nigeria, Tanzania, Antigua and Barbuda, Costa Rica, Thailand and Bangladesh.

Odita expressed appreciation to the China National Research Institute of Food and Fermentation Industries Corporation for organising the programme, as well as the hosts, facilitators, lecturers and supervisors for their contributions to its success.

He described the technical sessions on fruit processing and comprehensive utilisation as intensive but rewarding, saying the knowledge gained would provide valuable resources for participants as they return to their respective countries.

According to him, the experience went beyond classroom learning, with study tours providing participants with first-hand exposure to China’s food-processing industry, innovation and industrial practices.

The delegates visited Damin Food Company Limited in Zhangzhou, Fujian Zishan Group Company Limited, Tianfu Tea Culture Industrial Park, Fujian Lixing Food Company Limited and the Ten Fu Tea Museum, among other locations.

Odita said the visits offered participants a practical understanding of how innovation, discipline and industrial organisation could drive economic development.

He also singled out the visit to the Great Wall of China as one of the highlights of the programme, describing the historic structure as a symbol of China’s vision, resilience, patience and unity.

“Standing atop that ancient marvel, we could not help but see it as a fitting metaphor for China itself — a nation built brick by brick, generation by generation, through vision, resilience and unity,” he said.

The participants also commended their group supervisors for maintaining professionalism and instilling a strong culture of punctuality throughout the programme.

Odita said the discipline demonstrated by the supervisors had provided an important lesson that participants hoped to take back to their institutions and countries.

He described the diversity of the participants as a true reflection of the Belt and Road spirit.

“Nine nations. One classroom. One purpose,” he said.

According to him, the friendships and professional networks established during the programme were as valuable as the technical knowledge acquired.

As the participants prepared to return home, Odita said they were leaving Beijing equipped with new knowledge, stronger international networks and a renewed appreciation of the benefits of cooperation among nations.

“This seminar may be coming to a close, but the relationships we have built and the lessons we have learned will continue to bear fruit, quite literally, for many years to come,” he said.