From June 26 to July 6, Prof. Sun Tan, Vice President of CAAS, led a delegation to Ethiopia, Kenya, and South Africa for strengthening cooperation with African partners, promoting the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance (CAASTIA), and building cooperation platforms in Africa.

During the visit, consensus was reached between the CAAS delegation and leaders from the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR), Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organization (KALRO), Agricultural Research Council (South Africa) (ARC), and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) on strengthening cooperation in the rice production chain, animal disease prevention and control, and the yield improvement of minor crops. Meetings were also held with high-rank representatives from the African Union Headquarters, University of Pretoria (UP), and Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) to conduct in-depth exchanges on enhancing capacity building and innovation cooperation under the framework of CAASTIA. The CAAS delegation also paid a field visit to the China-Kenya Rice Demonstration Base and offered advice on its future development.

During the visit, CAAS signed Memorandums of Understanding with KARLO and ARC. Besides, EIAR, KARLO and ARC signed and submitted the Letters of Acceptance to join CAASTIA. Head of Mission of China to the African Union and Ambassador of China to South Africa met the delegation. Relevant officials from the Department of International Cooperation, China National Rice Research Institute, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, and National Nanfan Research Institute (Sanya) of CAAS participated in the delegation.