A delegation of 5 people from the Bureau of Agricultural Commodities Promotion and Management (BACPM), Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives of Thailand (MACT), led by Mrs. Urai Suwanwong, agriculture consul in the Department of Agriculture, Royal Thai Consulate General in Guangzhou, visited South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science (SCBG, CAS), and carried out exchange and cooperation on postharvest preservation technology on July 27, 2011. Members of the delegation included Mr. Visadsak Srisuriyatada, Head of Rice Production Promotion Group, BACPM, Mr. Walit Charensombat, Chairman of Jaedeehak Rice Community Center, Ratchaburi Province, and other colleagues.

Prof. FU Shenglei, deputy director of SCBG,  Prof. XIA Hanping, assistant director of SCBG, Prof. XIE Haihui, Prof. QU Hongxia, Prof. DUAN Xuewu and other researchers warmly received guests, exchanged and discussed on issues of the common interests, such as storage and preservation of litchi, longan, rice and other agricultural products in-depth.

In the morning, the symposium was hosted by FU Shenglei. He briefly introduced the basic situation of SCBG, and expected the two sides could find common concern research and technology cooperation. Mrs. Urai Suwanwong expressed her thanks for the warm reception of SCBG. She pointed out that agriculture research in SCBG, especially storage and preservation of fruits had a high technical level; Thailand was one of the major producers of tropical fruits in the world and had a great need for this technology; today the Thai agriculture officials and technical staff made a special trip to SCBG, was hoping to get this technical support.

XIE Haihui and Qu Hongxia introduced the research of ‘functional components of fruit and applications’ and ‘postharvest biology and its applications’ in SCBG, respectively. Then the two sides exchanged on issues of interest in-depth and reached a preliminary cooperation idea.

Then, the delegation visited the postharvest biology laboratories, and other related ones after the communication. The guests were impressed by the excellent research facilities and beautiful work environment.

In the afternoon, the delegation, accompanied by XIA Hanping, visited the landscape of SCBG and took group photos before the Magnolia sirindhorniae tree planted by Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, Her Royal Highness Princess of Thailand in 2003 The guests were appreciated highly by the superb and artistry plant configuration and landscaping techniques of SCBG.

The postharvest biology research group of SCBG and Thai counterparts has a long-term good relationship of cooperation in the organization of international conference, graduate education, commitment to cooperation projects, and promotion and application of postharvest technology over the years. This exchange will further strengthen the bilateral multi-level, multi-channel cooperation.

Exchange and cooperation

Representatives of both sides

Photo taken before the Magnolia sirindhorniae tree planted by the Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn in 2003