On October 22nd, 2018, the opening ceremony of Joint Research and Education Center between Forest Department, Myanmar and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (short for “Joint Research and Education Center”) took place inSoutheast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute of CAS (CAS-SEABRI)in Naypyitaw (the capital city of Myanmar). Wu Yueliang, vice-president of UCAS and a member of CAS, and U Zaw Min, vice-director of Forest Department, Myanmar, witnessed this significant moment together with representatives from both sides.
Wu congratulated the opening of Joint Research and Education Center, and supposed this research and education cooperation platform co-established by Southeast Asian Research Center and Forest Department, Myanmar, would play an important role in deepening the research and education cooperation for both sides. UCAS, as the largest graduate education institution in China and throughout Asia, has granted 47000 college students, including 53 students from Myanmar. UCAS was inclined to provide more programs and opportunities for individual training and capability building and would work hard to develop more outstanding talents together with Forest Department, Myanmar for the two countries.
U Zaw Min welcomed the delegation of UCAS presenting in the opening ceremony, and expressed his heartfelt thankfulness to the support from UCAS to biodiversity research and talent building projects in Myanmar, especially, Banna Botanical Garden and Southeast Asian Research Center have become the significant partners for Forest Department, Myanmar in the international stage. The opening of Joint Research and Education Center further pushed forward the friendship between UCAS and Forest Department, Myanmar.
Quan Ruichang, the executive director of Southeast Asian Research Center and researcher, also uttered gratitude to the strongly support from UCAS and Forest Department, Myanmar to the operation and work of the center. He added Southeast Asian Research Center would take the opening of Joint Research and Education Center as an opportunity to further boost cooperation in biodiversity conservation and youth talents development for both sides hence after.
After the opening ceremony, representatives from China and Myanmar held meetings to further discuss cooperation on research, cultivation of graduate students, the exchange program of young scientific talents and livelihood programsand reached preliminary consensus about these items. U Zaw Min expected more close bilateral cooperation and more achievements. Meanwhile, Wu Yueliang, hoped to select more well-performed youth science and technology talents to get a further education in UCAS via Joint Research and Education Center and Southeast Asian Research Center.
During the visiting practice, Wu Yueliang together with other representatives visited four joint laboratories in the center, and witnessed the signing of the cooperation agreement between Chengdu Institute of Biology and Myanmar Yejin Agricultural University. On-site inspection of the growth of Chinese hybrid rice in experimental fields in Naypyidaw was also scheduled in the visit. Representatives from Chinese Academy of Sciences International Cooperation Bureau, Myanmar Forestry Department, Southeast Asia Center, Myanmar Forestry Research Institute, Myanmar Yejin Agricultural University and etc.
Since Banna Botanical Garden of UCAS started science and technology cooperation with Myanmar Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment Protection in 2014, various international cooperation programs embarked and carried out along the way and numerous results were achieved. The initiative function of Joint Research and Education Center was the exact measure and key advancement after committed to department-level cooperation agreement for 5-running years (2016-2021). The action, through promoting cooperation relationship in research and education in both sides, will create more impetus for China to attract more Myanmar excellences and shape sound demonstration effects across Southeast Asia. Consequently, such practice is effective to make a prominent improvement in research and education influence for nations in Southeast Asia including Myanmar.
BY ZHANG Liyun
