Commissioned by the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture, CAAS vice President Huajun Tang led a delegation to Montpellier France for the first Global Conference on Agricultural Research for Development (GCARD) from 28-31 March 2010. Organized by Global Forum on Agricultural Research (GFAR) in collaboration with CGIAR, the GCARD aims at providing a global action plan and strategy for improving agricultural research to achieve the maximum impact on development, especially of the poor. 

Dr. Hujun Tang was involved in the high level dialogue on March 28 as a member of the panel and the session on the role of the fast-growing economies as new providers on March 30. He believes that China can play additional roles to target agricultural research priorities. China could most contribute in combating trans-boundary diseases, farming and systems management, biotechnology, and the development of hybrid rice.

During their stay in Europe, the delegation also visited the Avignon regional center of the French Academy of Agricultural Sciences (INRA) and the Spanish National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA).