The 2022 annual meeting of CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center (CCSMRC) was held online on February 13, 2023. More than 30 people, including Zheng Hongjian, Deputy Director of the Institute of Crop Breeding and Cultivation Research Institute and Deputy Executive Director of CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center, and relevant scientists from CCSMRC attended the meeting. B. M. Prasanna, Director of CIMMYT’s Global Maize Program, Dr. Xu Yunbi, Principal Scientist of Maize Molecular Breeding, Dr. Felix San Vicente, Principal Scientist of Maize Breeding (Latin America), Dr. Jill Elizabeth, Principal Scientist of Maize Physiology, Vijay Chaikam, Dr. Sudha Nair (Asia), Dr. Zhang Xuecai (Latin America), Nick Davis and Dr. Aparna Das participated in the online meeting as well.

Researcher Guan Yuan made a presentation on the overall work of CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center (CCSMRC), reporting the work progress and scientific research achievements of CCSMRC in 2022 in terms of fresh maize germplasm resources, basic research, variety selection, cultivation technology and production application, etc. After the presentation, scientists of CCSMRC had heated academic discussions with CIMMYT scientists.

Deputy Director Zheng introduced the international promotion and demonstration of maize varieties of CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center. B. M. Prasanna fully affirmed the work of CCSMRC and emphasized that the development of the specialty maize industry chain, the exchange of germplasm resources and promotion of specialty maize in Africa should be considered to the construction of the center.

The online meeting clarified the direction of the next stage of the cooperative between CIMMYT and CCSMRC, consolidated the international partnership between CIMMYT and SAAS, and laid a solid foundation for the further implementation of the belt and road initiative.