The International Symposium on Joint Management of Cross-border Crop Pests in China and Southeast Asian Countries, sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), was held in Kunming, Yunnan Province from November 7 to 9, 2022. It was organized by the Department of International Cooperation and the Institute of Plant Protection of CAAS, co-organized by Yunnan Agricultural University and other institutions. The Symposium focused on the collaborative prevention and control of transboundary crop pests to ensure biosecurity and food security in the region.

Academician Wu Kongming, CAAS President, Dr. Xia Jingyuan, DG of Plant Production and Protection Division of FAO, Mr. Bounchan Kombounyasith, DG of the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR, and Dr. Li Yonghe, President of Yunnan Agricultural University, delivered opening remarks.

In his speech, Wu Kongming pointed out that plant diseases and pests are the main biological constraints restricting agricultural production and sustainable control of cross-border crop pests, which is a significant issue confronted globally today. China and Southeast Asian countries share similar situation in terms of pest control because of similarity in geographical and eco-climatic conditions and cropping patterns. China and Southeast Asian countries should strengthen their collaboration to address the threats and challenges posed by cross-border crop pests to agricultural biosecurity.

Wu emphasized that CAAS has continuously made innovations in and enriched the research and understanding of the mechanisms of major agricultural pest outbreaks, continuously developed and improved the monitoring and early warning technological systems of major agricultural biological disasters, and continuously demonstrated and promoted major innovative achievements in plant protection. Meanwhile, CAAS focuses on the research, development and application of green control technologies and products, and provides the world with "Chinese wisdom", "Chinese products", "Chinese technologies" and "Chinese solutions".

The plaque unveiling ceremony for two international joint laboratories, namely the Lao PDR-China Joint Laboratory for Plant Protection, and Yunnan-CABI Joint Laboratory for Integrated Prevention and Control of Trans-boundary Pests, was held at the Symposium.

26 scientific presentations were delivered by the experts from China, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, Singapore as well as FAO and CABI. The Action Plan for Cooperation in Plant Protection among China and Southeast Asian countries was signed. More than 300 representatives attended the Symposium, both onsite and online.

By Dai Yuli (dai-yuli@163.com)