The Sino-French Forum on Agricultural Education and Science and Technology Cooperation opened at the International Academic Exchange Center at Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) on Oct 15. The Sino-French Horticultural Research Joint Laboratory was also unveiled at the event.
More than 100 scholars -- from institutions such as France's National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), Paris-Saclay University, École normale supérieure de Lyon, Claude Bernard University Lyon 1, the French Agricultural Research Center for International Development, Jilin University and Northwest A&F -- attended the conference.
Zeng Hongxia, minister of HZAU's Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, presided over the opening ceremony.
The Sino-French Forum on Agricultural Education and Science and Technology Cooperation is held at HZAU on Oct 15. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
At the opening ceremony, HZAU President Yan Jianbing reviewed the achievements of cooperation between the university and French universities and scientific research institutions for many years, emphasizing HZAU's commitment to promoting the construction of the community with a shared future for mankind, responding to global challenges and focusing on providing abundant healthy food for the earth and human beings.
Noting that this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and France, Yan said HZAU has deepened exchanges and cooperation with French universities and scientific research institutions, contributing to the development of agriculture in the two countries.
Yan Jianbing reviews the achievements of cooperation between HZAU and French universities and scientific research institutions. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
Jean-Yves Roux, French consul general in Wuhan, gave a speech in which he highly praised the exchanges and cooperation between HZAU and French partners. He expressed his hope that they would expand and deepen cooperation, especially in areas of crop cultivation, poultry and vegetables, smart agricultural equipment, climate change adaptation, biodiversity, soil health and food loss reduction.
French Consul General in Wuhan Roux outlines the areas of future agricultural cooperation between HZAU and French institutions.[Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
Li Zheng, chief representative in China of INRAE, read the speech of Philippe Mauguin, president of INRAE, where he expressed warm congratulations on the establishment of the new laboratory.
Li said that its establishment marks significant progress in the cooperation between France and China in the field of horticultural science, further strengthening the ties between relevant institutions, and paving the way for steady and long-term scientific research.
The Sino-French Horticultural Research Joint Laboratory is inaugurated. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
The Sino-French Forum on Agricultural Education and Science and Technology Cooperation consists of the main forum and four parallel sub-forums.
At the main forum, scholars made presentations on the topics of "molecular and genetic control of flower development and its influence on major traits of the rose and carnation", "one health and animal diseases", and "the development of multiple genome editing tools and their application in molecular breeding of cotton".
At the sub-forums, the participating scholars carried out in-depth exchanges and discussions on topics such as "planting systems for food security and environmental sustainability", "horticultural technology and industrial development", "new technologies for prevention and control of zoonosis" and "green development of fisheries".
