On the afternoon of June 26, 2018, Mahn Win Khaing Than, Speaker of the Assembly of the Union (Pyidaungsu Hluttaw) and Speaker of the House of Nationalities (Amyotha Hluttaw), Myanmar, visited the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) with his delegation, accompanied by Tondrub Wangben, Vice Chairman of the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress, and U Thit Linn Ohn, Ambassador of Myanmar to China. Dr. Tang Huajun, President of CAAS, received them with great hospitality.
 

Dr. Tang Huajun delivered warm welcome to Mahn Win Khaing Than and his delegation, and the two sides held a discussion on strengthening agricultural science and technology exchanges and cooperation. Tang emphasized that there have been good foundation for cooperation between China and Myanmar, the great cooperation potential between the two countries in areas like corn, potato and rice, and the broad cooperation space for fields like agricultural environment, intelligent agriculture, ecological agriculture and information technology. Tang advised the two sides to carry out the following cooperation in the next step: First, make full use of the existing foundation, and actively advance joint scientific and technological research, demonstration and promotion in such aspects as agricultural planting, plant protection, soil and fertilizer, and biogas energy construction with the focus on rice, corn, potato and other crop varieties. CAAS is willing to provide expertise to cooperate in the above areas. Second, strengthen personnel training and postgraduate training in both China and Myanmar, adding that talents are the key to effective cooperation between the two sides. Third, expand the field of exchanges and tap the potential for cooperation. In addition to conducting joint research projects and training, the two sides may hold professional academic symposium or seminars on areas of common interest and hot issues, such as agro-ecology, intelligent agriculture, and information technology. Both sides can strengthen mutual understanding and communication, fully share each other’s research progress and areas of strength, tap cooperation potential, and further promote in-depth development of bilateral scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation.
 

Mahn Win Khaing Than thanked Tang for his thoughtful arrangement, and felt honored to have discussions with experts of CAAS. Mahn Win Khaing Than hopes that China can strengthen cooperation with Myanmar on corn and other crop variety improvement, and help Myanmar improve agricultural practical technology and increase food production so as to benefit the people of Myanmar.
Dr. Gong Xifeng, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, CAAS, made a special report on China-Myanmar cooperation at the meeting. Attendees at the meeting include Dr. Zhang Huijie, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, and leaders of relevant institutes of CAAS, including Mr. Zhang Yanqing, Director General of the Institute of Agricultural Environment and Sustainable Development, Dr. Qiu Dewen, Deputy Director General of the Institute of Plant Protection, Dr. Yang Peng, Deputy Director General of the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, and Dr. Zhou Guomin, Deputy Director General of the Agricultural Information Institute.