During 24-26 July, the 7^th International Symposium on Fig-fig Wasp Biology was held at XTBG. The Symposium was hosted by Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) and funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC).  56 representatives from 11 countries and regions participated in the Symposium.

   Dr. Jean-Yves Rasplus, executive chairman of the symposium and adjunct professor of XTBG, declared the symposium open. Dr. Chen Jin, director of XTBG, delivered a welcoming speech.

   With the theme of “co-evolution and mutual beneficial development”, the symposium fulfilled the agenda as scheduled and met the expectations of the participants. The participants exchanged ideas on the most recent development on fig and fig wasp studies since the year of 2000, discussed new hot spots in fig and fig wasp, esp. the combination of macro and micro studies, planned to enlarge and further cooperation among international peers.  

In addition to academic exchanges and discussions, the participants made field studies on fig in Xishuangbanna tropical rainforest.

The 2 invited lectures and 24 special reports were a complete success. The atmosphere was particularly vivid and warm with everyone expressing their views freely and taking the floor one after another at the meeting.

   At the end of the symposium, Dr. Jean-Yves Rasplus said that the 7^th International Symposium on Fig-fig Wasp Biology  is well-organized and a successful gathering of large scale.