On September 21–27, Prof. Cao Yongsheng, Vice President of CAAS, led a delegation to Rwanda and Madagascar for academic exchanges, further advancing agricultural science and technology cooperation under the framework of the China–Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance (CAASTIA).

In Rwanda, the delegation held discussions with the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) and the University of Rwanda. The two sides agreed to build on existing cooperation platforms—including China–Rwanda Joint Laboratory on Integrated Management of Crop Pests and the Joint Laboratory on Hybrid Potato—to expand collaboration in green pest management, breeding of staple crops, and capacity building.  

In Madagascar, the delegation met with the State Secretariat in charge of Food Sovereignty under the Presidency of the Republic of Madagascar and the University of Antananarivo. The two sides reached a shared understanding on advancing localized demonstration and extension of CAAS technologies and products—including new crop varieties, plant-protection drones, and smart irrigation and drainage—while further strengthening exchanges and joint training of talents.  

The delegation also conducted field visits to the China–Madagascar Hybrid Rice Joint Laboratory.  

Responsible officials from the Department of Research Management, the Department of International Cooperation, as well as the Institute of Crop Sciences (ICS-CAAS), the Institute of Plant Protection (IPPCAAS), and the Institute of Farmland Irrigation of CAAS (IFI-CAAS), joined the delegation.