Over 150 participants from UK, USA, Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong participated the symposium. (From left sitting at front row) PSKLA(China Agricultural University) Deputy Director Prof. Shu-chuan ZHANG, PSKLA(CUHK) Deputy Director Prof. Liwen Jiang, China Agricultural University National Maize Improvement Center Director Prof. Jinsheng Lai, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute Associate Director Dr. Lin Huangquan, Shenzhen Virtual University Park Director Ms. Wang Ning, CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute Director Prof. Christopher H.K. Cheng, PSKLA (China Agricultural University) Director Prof. Qun He, PSKLA(CUHK) Director Prof Hon-Ming Lam, Chinese Academy of Engineering Academician Prof. Samuel S.M. Sun, University of Leeds Prof. Christine Foyer, University of California, Riverside Prof. Anthony H.C. Huang, National Chiayi University & Washington State University Emeritus Professor Prof. Maurice S.B. Ku, China Agricultural University Prof. Yaofeng Zhao, CUHK School of Life Sciences Director Prof. Kam-Bo Wong, PSKLA(CUHK) Research Manager Dr. Pui-Shan Liu.

Officiating Guests: Officiating guests kick off the symposium at the opening ceremony. (From left: Prof. Liwen Jiang, Prof. Maurice S.B. Ku, Prof. Anthony H.C. Huang, Prof. Christine Foyer, Prof. Qun He, Prof Hon-Ming Lam, Ms. Wang Ning, Prof. Christopher H.K. Cheng, Prof. Samuel S.M. Sun, Dr. Lin Huangquan, Prof. Yaofeng Zhao.

Program rundown

Photo Album: Opening |  Symposium  |  Round Table Discussion  |   Symposium Dinner  |  Visit  |  Video

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With the aspiration to establish international collaboration and inspire innovative research ideas, our Partner State Key Laboratory (PSKL) hosted an international mini-symposium at Shenzhen in conjunction with the PSKL, China Agricultural University and CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute Peacock Program on November 24, 2017. At the opening ceremony, the Director of CUHK Shenzhen Research Institute Prof. Christopher H.K. Cheng accepted our invitation to deliver a welcome note to over 150 participants from UK, USA, Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong. Then, Prof Hon-Ming Lam, Director of Partner SKL of Agrobiotechnology (CUHK) delivered the opening remarks to greet the keynotes speakers and officiating guests and to elaborate on our visions and research endeavoring to enhance China’s agricultural productivity, to safeguard national food security and to improve the livelihood of the people in our nation and beyond.

The symposium featured with keynote lectures delivered by world renowned scientists in the field of agrobiotechnology, namely Prof. Christine Foyer (University of Leeds, UK), Prof. Samuel S.M. Sun (Academician, Chinese Academy of Engineering), Prof. Anthony H.C. Huang (University of California, Riverside) and Prof. Maurice S.B. Ku (Emeritus Professor, National Chiayi University & Washington State University). The keynote lectures were followed by a plenary session chaired by Prof. Qun He. The plenary talks were delivered by 4 speakers including Prof Jinsheng Lai with his recent research findings on maize genomics and epigenomics published in Nature Genetics and Plant Physiology, Prof. Hon-Ming Lam with his recent research findings on wild soybean genome published in PNAS and Nature Communications, Prof. Liwen Jiang with his recent research findings on organelle biogenesis published in PNAS and Plant Journal, and Prof. Chang-Fu Tian with his recent research findings on evolutionary insights into rhizobial compatibility with soybeans.

In the afternoon concurrent sessions, chaired by Prof. Jinshen Lai, latest outstanding academic achievements on Genomics and Modeling have also been showcased by Prof. Ting-Fung Chan, Prof. Huiqiang Lou, Prof. Jerome H.L. Hui, Prof. Danny W.K. Ng, Prof. Haiwei Luo, Prof. Ziding Zhang and Prof. Amos P.K. Tai. Meanwhile, Prof. Jingjuan Yu, Prof. Yiji Xia, Prof. Zhengquan Yu, Prof. Wallace B.L. Lim, Prof. Shijun Zheng, Prof. Junxian He, Prof. Xun Suo and Prof. Faye S.Y. Tsang have delivered their recent research advancements in the area of Biotechnology in the concurrent session chaired by Prof. Kam-Bo Wong. The participating keynote speakers provided insightful comments on our research undertakings and admired our scientific achievements with high compliments.

After the mini-symposium, PIs from both PSKLs (CUHK and CAU) participated in the SKL Round Table Discussion session. All participating academic leaders agreed that the SKL conferences served as an effective exchange platform between the SKLs for establishing comprehensive mutual understanding to formulate collaborative research. Directors of both PSKL agreed to form some focus task forces to meet in smaller groups in the form of some workshops or seminars. Building on the existing strength (e.g. the just approved national support of RMB 600M for small pig model animal project), the tasks force will aim for addressing key scientific questions of common interest with a target-oriented approach. With the concerted effort, they will target for large scale national project and joint publications, sharing the common vision of up-scaling China’s agricultural technology to the world frontier to increase agricultural productivity. Attaining high synergy, the complementary collaborations will aim for establishing national and international collaborative consortium, with a vision to uplift the international standard of both PSKLs as a whole.

Last but not the least, this well attended academic meeting marks the joint efforts of CUHK SKL, CAU SKL and SZRI Peacock Program. Exerted efforts from all hosting research units and administrative team of co-organizing units are highly praised by the participants including the overseas speakers as a big success for its excellent, friendly and efficient arrangement.