On May 6-10, at the invitation of the Department of Agriculture (DoA), Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF), Lao PDR, a delegation from the Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (IPPCAAS) led by Prof. Zhang Jie, Deputy Director General of IPPCAAS, visited Laos. The purpose of this visit is to further strengthen the Lao PDR-China Joint Laboratory for Plant Protection and promote the implementation of the second phase of the International Science & Technology Innovation Program of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAASTIP II) project in Laos.

Mr. Bounchanh KHOMOUNYASI, Director General of DoA, MAF, Lao PDR warmly welcomed the IPPCAAS delegation, emphasizing the collaboration is built upon the long-term partnership between IPPCAAS and DoA. He hoped that both sides could further deepen their cooperation in monitoring and control of important transboundary crop pests, and improving the yield and quality of agricultural products in Laos. DDG Zhang Jie introduced the significant progress made via the Lao PDR-China Joint Laboratory over the past year, pointing out that through the implementation of CAASTIP II project, bilateral exchanges and cooperation would be further strengthened in terms of promoting the demonstration and application of Chinese technologies and products in Laos, and enhancing Laos’s capabilities in major crop pest management.

A bilateral meeting was held at the Plant Protection Center (PPC) of DoA. The delegation met with Mr. Bounsu SOUDMALY, Deputy Director General of DoA and Director of the Plant Protection Center (PPC), Mr. Bouapha BOUNKHAMPONE, Executive Deputy Director of PPC, and other officials and key researchers at PPC. The two sides had in-depth discussions focusing on joint lab construction, personal trainings, labor divisions, and work plans, etc. In addition, facilitated by DoA, the IPPCAAS delegation also conducted field investigations to local provinces including Phongsali, Oudomxai, Louangphrabang, and Vientiane.

Through this visit, IPPCAAS and DoA discussed and agreed on the organizational structure for the Joint Laboratory, and formulated work plans for the CAASTIP II project. The pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Lao PDR in plant protection will be further deepened through the implementation of the CAASTIP II project.