The 6th International Agricultural Research Conference (hereafter as “the Conference”) was held on Dec 15th, with the theme of “Fostering Agricultural Science and Technology Cooperation to Enhance Global Food Security”. The Conference was hosted by the Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR) and the Department of International Cooperation of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), organized by the Agricultural Information Institute (AII) of CAAS.

Academician Wu Kongming, President of CAAS and Mr. Carlos Watson, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Representative to China made the opening remarks online. Wu Kongming stated that CAAS promotes scientific and technological innovation from a global perspective. He hoped that CIAR will continue to provide technical and intellectual supports on global issues, such as food security, climate change, and green development, contributing more Chinese wisdom and solutions to global food and agricultural development.

“Given China’s experience on successful eradication of extreme poverty, digital innovations, and agricultural and rural development, China is uniquely positioned to share its innovation experience, innovative technologies, and best practices with the rest of the world”, said Carlos Watson.

Mr. Qian Keming, former Vice Minister of Ministry of Commerce, P.R.C., Mr. Sui Pengfei, Director General, Department of International Cooperation of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, P.R.C., and Mr. Fan Shenggen, Chair Professor at China Agricultural University (CAU) made keynote speeches on “International Cooperation Trend under the New World Situation”, “Agricultural International Cooperation under the Strategy on Developing a Strong Country” and “Food Security and Foreign Investment”, respectively.

Mrs. Nie Fengying, Executive Deputy Director General of CIAR, released the latest research findings on global food security strategy, frontier progress of agricultural science and technology, agricultural science and technology Going Global.

Eight speakers from FAO, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), CAAS, Syngenta Group China, Da Bei Nong Group gave their lectures and Beijing Office of Price Waterhouse Coopers Consulting (PwC) delivered their presentations and achieved expected results.

More than 300 domestic and foreign participants attended the Conference online. The Foreign Agricultural Cooperation Public Information Service Platform (www.facisp.cn) conducted a live broadcast  both in Chinese and English.

By Gu Rui (gurui@www.comparadata.com)