From October 31 to November 2, the Lao PDR-China Joint Laboratory for Plant Protection held technical seminar at the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS). The seminar was attended by Prof. Zhang Jie, Deputy Director General of IPPCAAS. Mr. Bounsu Soudmaly, Deputy Director General of the Department of Crop Production, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Laos; Dr. Souliya Souvandouane, Director of the Plant Protection Center, DOA, MOAF; and other representatives. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Tian Fang, Deputy Director of the IPPCAAS Division of Domestic and International Cooperation.

DDG Zhang Jie welcomed DDG Bounsu and his delegation, highlighting key achievements made this year under Phase II of the International Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program (CAASTIP II). The project aims to strengthen the collaboration between China and Southeast Asian countries on joint prevention and control of major transboundary crop pests and diseases. DDG Zhang summarized significant progress in platform development, technical exchange, product sharing, and talent training. DDG Bounsu expressed gratitude for IPPCAAS’s continued support of Lao agriculture, particularly in addressing critical crop pest challenges such as the fall armyworm and the yellow-spined bamboo locust. He emphasized Laos’s commitment to deepening collaboration with IPPCAAS in areas such as the joint laboratory initiative and CAASTIP projects to ensure effective implementation.

The seminar featured in-depth discussions on future cooperation plans. Key topics included establishing a Joint Laboratory Steering Committee, promoting rice and maize pest and disease control demonstration projects in Laos, and conducting joint research, monitoring, and regional management of pests such as the fall armyworm, yellow-spined bamboo locust, and southern corn rust. Both sides agreed on strengthening collaboration in the coordinated prevention and control of major transboundary crop pests and diseases.

During the meeting, the Lao delegation visited the IPPCAAS experimental stations in Langfang and Jiangcheng and participated in a field demonstration of transboundary pest and disease control technologies.

About 20 researchers from IPPCAAS, the DOA, MOAF, and PPC, participated in the seminar.