On October 14, 2015, Prof. Li Jiayang, Vice Minister of Agriculture and President of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CAAS), received Dr. Robert S. Zeigler，Director General of International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). The two sides exchanged ideas to further strengthen the technology collaboration in rice research. Dr. Wu Kongming, Vice President of CAAS attended the meeting.

Li highly valued IRRI’s important role in global rice research and also the collaborative achievements between the two sides. He noted that as the first CGIAR center to have established cooperation with CAAS, IRRI has made tremendous efforts in pushing forward Chinese rice research and training Chinese professionals. IRRI also provided a large quantity of high quality rice germplasms, which have greatly promoted new rice variety breeding and utilization in China.

Li stated that CAAS scientists have reviewed the collaborative research work plan proposed by IRRI, and are pleased to continue the joint work with IRRI, in the area of sequencing additional Oryza genomes, monitoring rice production systems under the challenge of climate change, using newly sequenced genomes to discover trait, developing C4 rice, etc., through various modalities like establishing joint-labs, so as to promote the rice research level in Asia and even in the world. He suggested setting up a joint working group to discuss the specifics.

Zeigler agreed with Li’s opinion, he is looking forward to the early implementation of the work plan.