In order to implement the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the requirements of the Central Rural Work Conference, and the National Agricultural Work Conference regarding strengthening agricultural cooperation with foreign countries, and in line with the "Belt and Road" initiative, to further promote the internationalization of agricultural products, enterprises, and production capacity, the Center for International Agricultural Research of the CAAS has established a new Expert Committee and Management Committee. The meetings of the Expert Committee and Management Committee were held on March 27-28 in Beijing.

On the afternoon of March 27, Deputy Director of the CAAS and Director of the Expert Committee of the Center for International Agricultural Research, Wu Kongming, presided over the Expert Committee meeting. Sun Tan, the director of the Agricultural Information Institute and director of the Center for International Agricultural Research, reported on the progress of the center's work in 2017 and the work plan for 2018. Over ten experts from national ministries, CAAS, agricultural enterprises, and international organizations provided consultation and suggestions on the center's work, covering areas such as scientific research, technical support, decision support, talent cultivation, and international development. Wu Kongming emphasized the Center for International Agricultural Research need to innovate in institutional mechanisms for operational management, act as a link for technical integration among various research institutes, leverage the advantages of overseas research and information services, provide decision support for the government and enterprises, combine technical expertise with soft power, and facilitate collaborative international endeavors by scientific and business communities.

On the morning of March 28, Chen Mengshan, the Party Secretary of the CAAS and Director of the Management Committee of the Center for International Agricultural Research, convened the Management Committee meeting of Center for International Agricultural Research. Wu Kongming, as the director of the Expert Committee of the Center for International Agricultural Research, reported the highlights of the center's work in 2017 and the key tasks for 2018 to the Management Committee. Sui Pengfei, Director General of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and Vice Chairman of the Management Committee of the Center for International Agricultural Research, gave a speech fully acknowledging the achievements of the center's work in 2017. He emphasized the need for the center to accumulate strength, be practical, face the government, enterprises, peers, and long-term goals in its research activities. He called for the "small core, large network" collaborative mechanism to be fully utilized, focusing on creating branded service products around the industry chain, and providing support for government decision-making and enterprise's "going global" efforts. In his concluding remarks, Secretary Chen Mengshan emphasized that the Center for International Agricultural Research should further enhance its sense of mission and responsibility, elevate its position, and serve the country's major development strategies and interests. He urged for innovative work mechanisms, enhanced foresight and strategic actions, strengthened functions in high-end think tanks, technical support services, and the function of leading and demonstrating foreign cooperation projects. Additionally, he stressed the importance of focusing on key features, accelerating platform construction, establishing a solid development foundation, and expanding influence. The meeting also approved the list of directors, deputy directors, and members of the management office of the Center for International Agricultural Research.

After the meeting, the signing ceremony of the task document for the "Agricultural Science and Technology Going Global Collaborative Innovation and Integrated Demonstration Research," a part of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences' Science and Technology Innovation Project for International Cooperation, was held. Deputy Dean Wu Kongming and the leaders and chief technical officers of the leading units responsible for the task signed the task document.

The meeting of the Expert Committee of the Center for International Agricultural Research of the CAAS.