From September 8th to 13th, the "China-Laos Training Workshop on Integrated Management of Major Crop Pests and Diseases," jointly sponsored by the Institute of Plant Protection of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS) and the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), and organized by the Lao Rubber-Crop Research Institute and the Crop Protection Center of the MAF, was successfully held in Vientiane, Laos. This workshop aimed to share China's practical experience and technological products in cross-border crop pest and disease monitoring and control with Laos, supporting Laos to establish an integrated management system for such pests and diseases and jointly address the threat they pose to agricultural biosecurity. Over 70 management and technical personnel from various Lao institutions participated, including the DOA, the Rice Research Center of the Lao National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI), the National University of Laos, and the Departments of Agriculture and Forestry from seven provinces in northern Laos.

The opening ceremony on September 9th featured several high-level officials, including Lien Thong Savan, Minister of MAF, Bounchanh Khamphouya, Director General of DOA of MAF, Jin Ke, Director General of Department of International Cooperation of CAAS, and Lu Yanhui, Director General of IPPCAAS. In his welcome speech, Director General Bounchanh expressed gratitude to the Chinese leadership and experts for their long-standing support of Lao agricultural development. Jin Ke, in his remarks, encouraged both side’s technical teams to deepen cooperation, particularly in promoting cross-border pest and disease monitoring and control technologies.

During the event, Minister Lien Thong met with the Chinese delegation and celebrated the progress made in the bilateral partnership on pest and disease control. He also presided over the handover ceremony of equipment for the Lao PDR-China Joint Laboratory for Plant Protection, witnessing the signing of a transfer agreement for 600,000 RMB worth of equipment between Lu Yanhui and Bounchanh Khamphouya. In recognition of its invaluable contribution to the project, IPPCAAS was honored with a special contribution award.

The training workshop featured 14 experts from institutions such as IPPCAAS, Yunnan Agricultural University, Guangdong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and the International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (CABI), covering topics like pest and disease identification and control, biological control using natural enemies, drone-based pesticide application, and scientific pesticide use. The program included 12 specialized training sessions, three field investigations, and two lab-based training sessions, fostering rich interactions between participants and experts.

At the closing ceremony, participants were awarded completion certificates. Bounchanh Khamphouya presented an honorary certificate to IPPCAAS and expressed his appreciation for the expert guidance provided by the Chinese side. He urged the trainees to apply the knowledge gained in their daily work to enhance their capacities and called for continued collaboration with China in the future.

This workshop is part of the International Science & Technology Innovation Program of CAAS, specifically targeting the construction of a "Proactive Defense System for Cross-Border Crop Pest and Disease Control" in China and Southeast Asia. Its success not only bolsters Laos’s capacity to manage pest and disease threats but also aligns with China's strategic objective of advancing pest control interventions to earlier stages, with a stronger focus on source management. The initiative fosters more efficient agricultural practices and strengthens food security and biosecurity for both countries, establishing a new exemplar for agricultural science collaboration under the Belt and Road Initiative.

The workshop garnered significant attention from Lao media and was widely covered by Lao National Television and the official website of the Lao Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.