On October 20, Prof. BAI Chunli, the President of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), made an inspection of South China Botanical Garden (SCBG), accompanied by Prof. ZHAN Wenlong, the Vice President of CAS. Prof. HUANG Hongwen, director of SCBG, and Profs. REN Hai and FU Shenglei, deputy directors of SCBG, and some principal investigators warmly greeted the two leaders and their accompanying group.

Prof. Bai firstly inspected the public laboratory of SCBG. Mrs. XU Xinlan, the director of the laboratory, gave a brief introduction on its history and scale, the rapid growing trend, and its contribution to researchers since the period of "Innovation Phase III" (2006-2010). Prof. Bai gave positive comments on the standardized management of the laboratory.

Prof. Bai paid a keen attention to the laboratories with the aims of three "key breakthrough strategies" and five key research directions. In the newly opened comprehensive experimental building, five principal investigators, Drs WU Guojiang, David Ow, YE Wanhui, MO Jiangming and FU Shenglei, showed their research directions and achievements to Prof. Bai, respectively, especially in the fields of plant genetic engineering, new cultivar breeding, environmental governance and ecological safety. Prof. Bai had a cordial talk with these scientists, and put forward some constructive suggestions on introducing talented persons, intellectual property protection, and so on.

During the visiting, Dr. Huang presented Prof. Bai a report on the working progress since "Innovation Phase III", including scientific research, talent cultivation, infrastructure construction, innovation culture, and the cooperation between SCBG and local authorities. He also introduced to Prof. Bai about the Twelfth Five-year Plan and "Innovation 2020" of SCBG, and Prof. Bai gave a high appraisal on these achievements. He pointed out that SCBG not only should obtain the original achievements in the research fields of basic botany and theoretical ecology, but also produce a marked effect in national strategic demand and ecological safety; rmoreover, SCBG should further transfer scientific and technological achievements into productivity in time. He gave the best wishes to SCBG and hoped that SCBG would make new and greater contributions in "Innovation 2020" of CAS.

The main personnel accompanying Prof. Bai's inspection contained Ms. LI Ting, head of CAS General Office, Prof. FAN Weimin, director of CAS Bureau of Science and Technology for Resources and Environment, and Prof. DUAN Ziyuan, head of CAS Office of Agricultural Programs, Mr. WANG Yuechao, vice director of CAS Bureau of High-Technology Research and Development, and Prof. CEHN Yong, president of Guangzhou Branch of CAS.

Prof. BAI Chunli (middle) visiting the public laboratory

Prof. BAI Chunli (left) listening to Dr. David Ow's (right) introduction about transgene engineering

Prof. BAI Chunli (middle) listening to Dr. FU Shenglei's (left) introduction about the newest ecological research achievements

Group photo of Prof. BAI Chunli (middle) and Prof. ZHAN Wenlong (left one) with the leadership of SCBG, HUANG Hongwen (left two), REN Hai (right two) and FU Shenglei (right one) 

Prof. BAI Chunli (middle) listening to Dr. Huang Hongwen's (left three) introduction about the "Innovation 2020" of SCBG