On October 30 2018, Workshop on Cooperation Strategy in Hybrid Rice Technology between China and Pakistan co-organized by China National Rice Research Institute (CNRRI) and International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) affiliated to University of Karachi was held in Hangzhou. The three sections of the workshop are Inauguration of Sino-Pakistan Hybrid Rice Research Center (SPHRRC), Cooperation Strategy in Hybrid Rice R & D and Future Collaboration based on the SPHRRC Platform. Representatives from Department of International Cooperation of CAAS (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences), ICCBS and Hazara University in Pakistan, and CNRRI attended the workshop.

The inauguration ceremony of SPHRRC was hosted by CNRRI’s DDG Prof. Hu Peisong. CNRRI’s DG Prof. Cheng Shihua, the 2014 China Friendship Award gainer and Pakistan’s former Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Atta Ur Rahman, ICCBS Director Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, and Division Chief Zhai Lin from Department of International Cooperation of CAAS jointly inaugurated the center. Launched by CNRRI and ICCBS, SPHRRC is established in both China and Pakistan using the same mode of operation. In the inauguration ceremony, DG Cheng Shihua said that the first SPHRRC inaugurated in Pakistan effectively promotes testing trials of hybrid rice varieties developed by CNRRI. He also noted that CNRRI’s newly inaugurated SPHRRC will provide more training opportunities for Pakistani students and scientists. In addition, there are plans to initiate bilateral hybrid rice R & D projects. SPHRRC based in the two countries will contribute to enhancing bilateral cooperation and improving Pakistani hybrid rice R & D capabilities. In the meantime, technologies and varieties developed by CNRRI will be further developed and applied in Pakistan.

During the workshop, the two sides reviewed earlier cooperation and settled future programs and commercial mode of cooperation. CNRRI’s post-doctoral and doctoral students analyzed current situation of hybrid rice development in China and Pakistan from the perspective of rice cultivation, hybrid rice variety breeding, agricultural strategic cooperation in building China–Pakistan economic corridor, etc. Based on the analysis, they noted the huge potential for bilateral cooperation and put forward ideas for joint work in the hybrid rice. It is expected that a new chapter in Sino-Pakistan hybrid rice cooperation will be opened with the establishment of SPHRRC, further strengthening friendship between China and Pakistan.