Academician Hou Jianguo, Vice-Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), paid an inspection tour to Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) on September 11. His tour was for an investigation of construction of national basic facilities and meeting representative research professors.

Prof. Chen Jin, director of XTBG, chaired a meeting for the vice minister to talk with the research professors. The vice minister introduced the progress of formulating a plan for deepening reform of the management of science and technology initiatives (projects and funds) financed by the central government. He also talked about the advantages and disadvantages of a mixed mechanism with botanical garden as a platform, positioning, running, and management of botanical gardens as national quasi-profit public infrastructure.

Afterwards, Prof. Chen Jin showed the vice minister and his companions around the living collections and the Central Laboratory.

At the Distinctive Plant Collection

At the Central Laboratory

Vice Minister Hou Jianguo (C) talking

Prof. Chen Jin talking

Vice minister talking with representative reserach fellows