During November 7-9, a 6-person delegation of Vietnamese Academy of Science & Technology (VAST), headed by its deputy director Dr. Pham Van Quy, came to visit XTBG at the invitation of CAS Kunming Branch.

  The two sides held a meeting on Nov.8. Prof. Cao Min, deputy director of XTBG, made an introduction about scientific research, gardening and public science education of the Garden. In-depth discussions on tropical biodiversity conservation, management of nature reserves, utilization of resource plants, personnel training and postgraduate education were carried out. The two sides agreed that future cooperation would be focused on personnel and information exchanges in tropical biology, ecology and biological resources. Dr. Pham hoped that specific cooperation plans would be drawn out as soon as possible, which might be included in the framework of CAS-VAST cooperation.

  After the meeting, Prof. Chen Jin, director of XTBG, treated the VAST delegation.

  The delegation looked around the scientific facilities as the Seed Bank, Laboratories, Library, Herbarium and field monitoring stations. They also visited the ex situ conservation area of rare and endangered plant species, living plant collections, and the Tropical Rainforest Ethnic Culture Museum.

   Founded in 1975, VAST is a national agency in charge of research and development of natural science and technology. The VAST is composed of 18 research institutes and 9 sub-institutes.