On October 28, 2014, CAAS President LI Jiayang met with Prof. Anne De Paepe, the Rector of Ghent University (UGent).

LI highly recognized collaborative scientific advances that have been achieved in the past 30 years between CAAS and UGent. “We have conducted a great deal of joint scientific research activities in the fields of land evaluation, soil and water conservation, carbon and nitrogen cycling, remote sensing, climate change, food security, biotechnology, nematode sciences and so forth. ” LI said, “We should keep this tie tight, and at the same time, let’s develop new areas for further cooperation, such as veterinary, agroecology, etc.”

LI also expressed that long-term mechanism should be established for talent cultivation and PhD students training/co-supervision to consolidate the capacity building.LI added, “The Joint Laboratory of Global Change and Food Security is playing as an effective platform to implement our research cooperative plans. We hope this form of management and devotion of scientists from both sides will promote our partnership. ”

Prof. Anne De Paepe agreed with LI. “Ghent University values the partnership with CAAS. It is very impressive that CAAS made such significant achievements in agricultural science and technology. Ghent University will keep promoting cooperation in more mutually interested areas.” She said, “It is also a very important part in the collaborative framework that both sides jointly cultivate PhD students.”

UGent delegation also visited the National Key Facility for Crop Gene Resources and Genetic Improvement, and Key Laboratory of Agri-informatics of MOA.