Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) and Biotechnology and Ecology Institute (BEI) of Lao PDR are to collaborate to promote cooperation in human resource development and capacity building, biodiversity and ecosystem research and conservation, sustainable management of national resources, technology transfer and application and academic exchange, according to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on August 17.

The MoU was signed when Prof. Dr Boviengkham Vongdara, Minister of Science and Technology (MoST) of Lao PDR headed up a delegation to XTBG, where CAS president Bai Chunli met and discussed cooperation between Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Lao. XTBG director Chen Jin and BEI representative signed the MoU.

In support of the green “Belt and Road” Initiative, “CAS and Lao MoST will collaborate to establish program office of Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute (SEABRI) in Lao PDR”,  said CAS president Bai Chunli.

“The purpose is to promote scientific collaborations in biodiversity conservation and ecology between China and Lao PDR”, added Chen Jin.

XTBG and BEI will further jointly conduct biological and biodiversity inventory in those conservation strategic areas and least scientific known areas, such as Savanna, dry/mixed-Dipterocarp regions in Lao PDR, and trans-boundary regions between Lao PDR and China.

The two sides will cooperate in sustainable management of national resources, technology transfer and application. They agree to jointly build a 25 to 50 hectare tropical rainforest permanent research plot in a proper site of Lao PDR.

Moreover, the two sides will collaborate in academic and scientist exchange, on-site training courses, and exchange of information and publications, etc.

CAS president Bai Chunli and other leaders witnessed the signing ceremony of the MoU.

During the visit of Lao delegation at XTBG, a MoU was also signed between University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS) and Department of Personnel (DoP) of Lao MoST.

The Lao delegation also visited living collections and scientific facilities of XTBG and communicated with neighboring villagers.

CAS president Bai Chunli speaks at the meeting

Minister Boviengkham Vongdara speaks at the meeting

CAS president Bai Chunli and Lao Minister Boviengkham Vongdara  exchange gifts

Chen Jin and BEI sign MoU

Lao delegation visits Flower Garden of XTBG

Prof. Hu Huabin (R1) accompanies Lao delegation to Dai villages

Bai Chunli and Lao degegation pose group photo with XTBG researchers