The 5th International Agricultural Research Conference (hereafter as “the Conference”) was successfully held on Oct 26th in Beijing with the theme of “Global Agricultural Development and International Cooperation in the Post-epidemic Era”. The Conference was hosted by Center for International Agricultural Research (CIAR) and Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), organized by Agricultural Information Institute of CAAS, and co-organized by China Association of Agricultural Science Societies and FAO Representation in China.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Sun Tan, Vice President, CAAS while Li Jinxiang, National Chief Veterinarian of MARA, Wu Kongming, President of CAAS and Carlos Watson, FAO Representative to China made the opening remarks.

Li Jinxiang recognized the great achievements in international agricultural communication and cooperation and urged CAAS to further enhance the international agricultural research to advance global agricultural governance and contribute to global food security and sustainable development.

Wu Kongming stated CAAS should focus on the needs of “Belt and Road” countries. He highly appreciated CIAR’s efforts in the last six years and emphasized the importance of promoting strategy research, information service and talent training to achieve the goal of fostering agriculture “going global”.

“The pandemic has exacerbated the social and economic inequalities negatively affecting the livelihoods of people around the world,” said Carlos Watson, “In the post pandemic era, FAO will continuously partner with all stakeholders to facilitate international agricultural cooperation for achieving No Poverty and Zero Hunger goals.

Peng Tingjun, Deputy Director General, Department of International Cooperation, MARA and Zhang Jianping, Director General, Center for Regional Economic Cooperation, Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, MOFCOM made keynote speeches on “Agricultural Products Trade & Investment and Agricultural Cooperation Mechanism” and “New Trends in Global Development & Green Global Value chains” respectively.

Nie Fengying, Executive Deputy Director General of CIAR, CAAS released the latest research findings of Silk Road Model and the research achievement of agricultural science and technology strategy.

Two dialogue sessions on “China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation” and “International Agricultural Trade and Investment” also achieved expected results.

More than 3000 domestic and foreign representatives participated in the Conference on line and on site. The Foreign Agricultural Cooperation Public Information Service Platform (www.facisp.cn) conducted a live broadcast both in Chinese and English.

By Gu Rui (gurui@caas.cn)