A delegation from Murdoch University (MU), Australia, visited IPP on 9 August. The Delegation composed of Prof. Bernie DELL, International Research Director, Prof. REN Yonglin, Associate Dean International, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, and Prof. Simon MCKIRDY, the Director of the Sustainable Development Institute. IPP and the Delegation discussed and exchanged essential issues in the sci-tech collaboration in the areas of biological invasion and biosafety and graduate training. DDG QIU Dewen was present at the meeting. The meeting was hosted by Dr. WANG Lixia, the Deputy Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Graduate Student. Director WANG Xunqing from the Department of International Education, the Graduate School of CAAS, Prof. WAN Fanhao and Dr. GUO Jianyang from the Department of Biological Invasions, IPP, attended the meeting.

DDG QIU Dewen greeted Director DELL and his colleagues and briefly recalled the fruitful collaboration between IPP and MU that has been conducted. Director DELL introduced the aims of this visit and issues for collaboration and discussion. After that, Director WANG Xunqing introduced the policies and requirement for CAAS to supervise graduate students jointly with foreign institutions, and the channels of application for government funded overseas study. Prof. WAN Fanghao put forward suggestions to further collaborations in the area of biological invasion. During the discussion, leaders and scientists talked on the application of international cooperation projects, joint training of graduates and the annual work content in 2016 for China-Australia Joint Centre for the Prevention and Management of Exotic Invasive Species and work plan for the next year. Both sides hoped to promote the work of the Joint Centre through joint effort. IPP and MU reached a consensus on jointly interested issues, the research focuses, way of collaboration, etc., for the tentative signing of MOU on joint PhD supervision between MU and CAAS. Both sides will carry out deeper collaboration in the control of invasive alien species, exchange and reciprocal visit of scientists, joint supervision of graduates, joint organization of international academic meetings and trainings and enhance the globalization of academic journals, etc.

The visit paid by MU Delegation pushed the deep collaboration in research between IPP and MU. Both sides are clear about the areas and way of collaboration and this is important to mutual substantial collaboration and the construction of China-Australia Joint Centre for the Prevention and Management of Exotic Invasive Species.