The China International Agricultural Training Center was established in 1988 by the Chinese government with the support of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Council (WFC). It was established at South China Agricultural University for international agricultural training. It is also one of the main projects of the United Nations as a technical cooperation for developing countries (TCDC). Its purpose is to impart advanced agricultural technologies with Chinese characteristics to developing countries.

 Since 1989, it has successfully hosted 44 national foreign aid training programs. The training content covers agricultural economic management, sugarcane cultivation, rice cultivation, crop pest control, environmentally friendly fertilizers, sericulture production and management, etc. A total of 1,094 agricultural management officials and technicians from 98 countries and regions in Asia, Africa, America, Europe, and Oceania participated in the training.  

Foreign aid training programs are based on better serving the country's foreign strategy, in line with China’s overall diplomatic work needs, helping developing countries to cultivate talents, and promoting friendly relations and economic and trade cooperation with developing countries.  

It aims to actively serve the “Belt and Road” construction, deepen cultural promotion and friendly cooperative relations between China and countries along the “Belt and Road” and other developing countries, promote the demonstration and application of China’s technology and equipment in developing countries. It has promoted practical cooperation with developing countries in the agricultural field and will continue to deepen friendly cooperative relations with countries along the “Belt and Road”.  

The programs implement all-English teaching and adopt a teaching model that combines theoretical classes, experimental internships and visits. Participants learn China's agricultural technology, development experience and brilliant achievements of China's reform and opening up. At present, South China Agricultural University has established a primary brand of foreign aid training program, formed a stable teaching staff and a complete training course system, and formed a standardized and effective management and service mechanism, which has greatly enhanced international reputation and influence of SCAU.