On June 26, Prof. Huang Sanwen, President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), met with a delegation led by Prof. Helen Hambly Odame, Chair of the Board of Trustees of the International Potato Center (CIP), and Dr. Simon Heck, Director General of CIP. The two sides held in-depth discussions on further strengthening scientific and technological cooperation. Prof. Sun Tan, Vice President of CAAS, attended the meeting.

The two sides noted that potato and sweetpotato are high-yielding, stable, and highly adaptable food and cash crops whose strategic value is becoming increasingly prominent. CAAS and CIP have a long history of cooperation and have achieved fruitful results in germplasm exchange, platform development, and scientific innovation.

CAAS proposed that the two sides build on platforms including the joint laboratory, the CIP-China Center for Asia Pacific, and the Global Hybrid Potato Alliance to deepen research cooperation in areas of shared interest, with a focus on the global promotion of hybrid potato, germplasm conservation, and joint breeding. CAAS also proposed strengthening capacity building and talent training for developing countries by combining China's experience with CIP's global network. These efforts would promote the application of innovations in potato and sweetpotato science and technology in developing countries across Asia and Africa and contribute to global food security.

Prof. Odame expressed strong support for the proposals and noted that cooperation between the two sides has entered a new stage of joint development. She said that CIP would fully support efforts to further broaden and deepen the partnership. Dr. Heck expressed CIP's readiness to work closely with CAAS, continue scientific exchanges and collaborative research, and further strengthen the partnership between the two institutions.

Dr. Xie Jianmin, Director of the CIP-China Center for Asia Pacific; members of the CIP Board of Trustees; and representatives from the Department of International Cooperation of CAAS attended the meeting.