On March 27-29, 2019, the 11^th Joint Lab Steering Committee meeting was organized by IPP-CAAS, CABI East Asia and CABI Switzerland. Delegates officially unveiled the plaque of MARA China-CABI European Laboratory at CABI’s existing facilities in the Swiss canton of Jura.

The meeting was chaired by HAO Weiping，DDG of Department of International Cooperation, CAAS. WANG Hongqian, DDG of Department of International Cooperation, MARA, Mei Xurong, Vice President of CAAS, and Ulli Kuhlmann, Executive Director of Global Operations, CABI delivered opening remarks, respectively. Both sides affirmed the remarkable achievements gained in the field of introduction of advanced technologies and concepts, development of international cooperation projects, scientific exchanges, technical trainings and building of a scientific research innovation team during the past 10 years. The Joint Lab is ready to embrace new opportunities and challenges in 2019, and the European Lab will open a new chapter for the internationalization of Joint Lab. Joint Lab summary report and working plan session was chaired by WANG Hongqian. ZHOU Xuepingand Ulli Kuhlmann, co-directors of Joint Lab, reported the annual review report of Joint Lab 2018 and working plan and budget for 2019. Chen Julian and Hariet Hinz reported the preparation and progress of European Lab in 2018. Ulli Kuhlmann chaired key issues related to the Joint Lab operation and development strategy session and round-table discussion with Simon Zbinden and Michel Evéquoz from SDC, on further implementation plan of European Lab.

The Steer Committee approved: 1) annual review report of Joint Lab 2018; 2) Joint Lab working plan and budget for 2019; 3) election of WANG Hongqian as Joint Lab SC chairperson for 2019; 4) focusing on triangular collaboration as key development trends of Joint Lab, including Joint Lab (Beijing), European Lab and partners from Africa or Asia.

The meeting confirmed that Joint Lab would strengthen the bilateral and multilateral cooperation on plant protection, management of invasive species and green control, maintain the sustainable development of Joint Lab in a steady way, continue functioning as a bridge to support the going global of China’s agriculture， B&R initiative and South-South cooperation and promote agricultural international cooperation with B&R countries. The European Lab is the first oversea joint lab established by MARA and international organizations and will promote strategy collaboration between MARA, CAAS and CABI, link to international novel resources and implement agricultural scientific research and development activities of global impact. Based on experiences gained from Joint Lab (Beijing), both sides will expand funding sources and project opportunities for European Lab, work practically and efficiently to meet domestic and international needs on agricultural development, and explore a new model for international scientific exchange and cooperation. The CABI Switzerland provides facilities for European Laboratory and plans to receive two scientists from IPP-CAAS to conduct short-term visit to European Lab.

The participants included Project Officer WANG Shuangchao from Division of European and Asian Affairs, Department of International Cooperation of MARA, Project Officer LIU Wenbo from Department of International Cooperation of CAAS, DG LIU Rongle from Agro-Environment Protection Institute, MARA, DG YIN Hong from Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS, Secretary of Party Leadership LI Sijing from Institute of Agricultural Economics and Development, CAAS; CABI Membership Director ZHANG Qiaoqiao, CABI East Asia Regional Director ZHANG Feng, and CABI Senior scientists Stefan Toepfer, Tim Haye and LI Hongmei.