In order to further strengthen the cooperations and exchanges between China and Vietnam in the field of agricultural scientific research, the Consul General Nguyễn Thế Tùng of the Consulate General of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam in Shanghai visited Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences on September 27. Cai Youming, secretary of the Party Committee and president of SAAS, received the guests. Shen Xiaohui, director of the Research Administration Division, Cao Liming, director of the Crop Breeding&Clutivation Institute, Pei Hongluo, secretary of the Crop Breeding&Clutivation Institute, Zheng Hongjian, deputy director of the Crop Breeding&Clutivation Institute and other relevant officials of SAAS attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Vice President Zhao Zhihui.

The China-Vietnam Science and Technology cooperation and Maize Academic Exchange meeting was held in both online and offline. The offline venue was located at the SAAS. Meanwhile, leaders and experts from the National Corn Research Institute of Vietnam and the Bắc Giang Agriculture and Forestry University of Vietnam communicated with us via internet.

Cai Youming welcomed the guests at the meeting, and introduced the basic situation of SAAS in discipline construction, scientific and technological innovation, achievement transformation, talent training and other aspects. Cai said that with the promotion of the "Belt and Road" initiative, we have initially formed a multi-level agricultural science and technology cooperation mechanism between SAAS and various agricultural scientific research institutions of Vietnam, and have carried out a series of fruitful international cooperation and exchanges including joint laboratories, cooperative research and personnel exchanges. We will, as always, adhere to the concept of "open academy", continuously expand the international "circle of friends" of agricultural science and technology cooperation, sincerely cooperate with various agricultural scientific research institutions of Vietnam, share the fruits, and help each other achieve development and prosperity.

Nguyễn Thế Tùng said that the SAAS has made substantial contributions to the agricultural science & technology exchanges and cooperation between Vietnam and China for a long time. Especially in the past two years, SAAS has overcome the negative impact of the covid-19 pandemic, promote several substantial agricultural science and technology cooperation projects with the National Maize Research Institute of Vietnam, Bắc Giang Agriculture and Forestry University and other scientific research institutions. The Consulate General of Vietnam in Shanghai affirmed the great importance to promote the cooperation and exchanges between Vietnam and China in science and technology. In the future, the consulate would continue to play the role as a bridge of communication by recommending the cooperation resources of the SAAS to the relevant organizations and institutions in Vietnam.

Zheng Hongjian introduced the development process and achievements of CCSMRC to the delegates, and the substantial cooperation between CCSMRC and the National Maize Research Institute of Vietnam and the Bắc Giang Agriculture and Forestry University of Vietnam in the development and utilization of specialty mazie germplasm resources, the cultivation and promotion of new maize varieties, maize nutrition strengthening and stress resistance.

Nguyễn Xuân Thắng, director of the National Corn Research Institute of Vietnam, and Nguyễn Quang Hà, president of Bắc Giang Agriculture and Forestry University of Vietnam, exchanged views with SAAS online on the demonstration and promotion of new varieties of fresh maize and talent exchange at the meeting as well.

posted by  Hu Yingxiong, CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center