To promote international exchange and cooperation in the field of agricultural science and technology, the "2nd Close Encounter with Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences " event was held at Zhuanghang Integrated Experimental Station, SAAS on the afternoon of September 17. Consul General and Deputy Consul General from the Consulates General of Fiji, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Laos, Poland, Serbia, the Dominican Republic, Malaysia, Vietnam, and the Czech Republic in Shanghai were invited to attend. Also present were relevant leaders from the Consular Affairs Division of Shanghai Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the International Cooperation Division of Shanghai Municipal Agriculture and Rural Affairs Commission, the International Department of Shanghai Association for Science and Technology, the Foreign Affairs Office of the General Office of Shanghai Municipal Committee of the CPPCC, and the International Cooperation and Exchange Division of Shanghai Science and Technology Exchange Center. Cai Youming, President of SAAS, and Vice Presidents Zhao Zhihui, Shen Xiaohui, received the guests.

Accompanied by scientific and technological personnel, the delegation of consulates in Shanghai visited demonstration scenarios including colorful paddy field artworks "painted" through precision rice positioning and planting technology, ecological high-standard farmland, and the unmanned driving production technology system for protected leafy vegetables. In the Innovative Agricultural Science Exhibition Hall, the delegation gained an immersive understanding of the scientific and technological innovation achievements of SAAS. The exhibition hall set up sections such as an achievement display board area, a technical demonstration video area, an agricultural product tasting area, and an ecological agriculture "micro-landscape" interactive area, comprehensively showcasing the "hard-core" scientific and technological innovation strength of the teams in rice, flowers, vegetable cultivation, edible fungi, and other fields.

At the Meeting, Cai Youming delivered a welcome speech, extending a warm welcome to the guests. He stated that since its establishment, SAAS has always adhered to the concept of "opening up for development". Through "bringing in" and "going out", it has established friendly cooperation with more than 110 institutions in over 30 countries worldwide. It has taken the lead in establishing international platforms such as the CIMMYT-China Specialty Maize Research Center and China (Shanghai) International Quinoa Innovation Center. On average, it carries out mutual visits of 100 person-times with scientific research institutions from various countries each year, jointly undertakes a number of international scientific research projects, and continuously conducts cooperation and exchanges in the agricultural field at a higher level and in a wider range. He expressed the expectation that taking this event as an opportunity, SAAS will work with consular institutions of various countries to inject new impetus into the sustainable development of global agriculture.

Representatives from the Consulates General of Poland, Bulgaria, Fiji, and other countries in Shanghai spoke highly of the scientific research achievements of SAAS in seed industry innovation, smart agriculture, and other fields, and shared their respective countries' experiences and needs in agricultural science and technology development. The representatives unanimously stated that through on-site inspections and exchanges, they have gained a deeper understanding of the research fields and cooperation potential of SAAS, and look forward to deepening cooperation in the future to jointly promote agricultural innovation achievements for the benefit of the world.

This event coincided with China's 8th "Chinese Farmers' Harvest Festival" and was also one of the series of Harvest Festival activities planned and carried out by SAAS around the theme of "Technology Empowers Agriculture, Innovation Leads the Future". By building a dialogue platform between consulates in Shanghai and agricultural science and technology workers, it demonstrated the practical results of Shanghai's agricultural science and technology empowering rural revitalization and conveyed the development concept of "Science knows no borders, and cooperation promotes win-win results".

Relevant persons in charge of the Scientific Research Management Division, Achievement Transformation Division, and various institutes of SAAS attended the event.