Shanghai, China – November 4^th 

The delegation, led by Dr. Isabel Allona, Director of the Spanish Center for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP), visited the CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences (CEMPS).  Accompanying her were Dr. Guy Vancanneyt, Head of International and Strategic Scientific Cooperation CBGP Office and Dr. Xavier Ferré, Chair of Asian Affairs at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. The two sides engaged in thoughtful and constructive discussions on enhancing cooperation in agricultural biotechnology, sustainable development, and various other fields.

The meeting was hosted by Dr. Yu Zhang, Deputy Director of CEMPS, with several CEMPS Principal Investigators in attendance, including Dr. Alberto Macho, Dr. Chanhong Kim, and Dr. Chaofeng Huang. Former CBPG Director, Dr. Antonio Molina, also joined the meeting online.

Dr. Yu Zhang warmly welcomed the Spanish delegation and provided a comprehensive overview of the research focus and team structure at CEMPS. Dr. Isabel Allona shared CBPG’s latest advancements in collaborative exchanges and project applications. Dr. Alberto Macho recalled that since 2019, the CEMPS, the IGDB（Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, CAS), and the CBGP have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on "Center of Excellence for Plant-Environment Interactions" (CEPEI). Since then, both parties have made significant progress in joint application projects, student exchanges, and online seminars. Dr. Antonio Molina expressed high appreciation for the collaboration over the past five years and conveyed his commitment to further deepening cooperation. The two sides discussed renewing the MoU and expanding cooperation to new areas. 

During the visit, the delegation toured CEMPS's mass spectrometry laboratory, the greenhouse, and the editorial office of Molecular Plant. They expressed great admiration for the research facilities and technical capabilities.

This visit has significantly enhanced the mutual understanding of the research capabilities of both institutes and their potential for collaboration, thereby creating additional opportunities for future partnerships. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to fostering exchanges and advancing together in order to promote innovation within the field of plant sciences.