In November 2022, Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences (YAAS) and Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI) signed Memorandum of Understanding between Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute and Yunnan Academy of Agricultural Sciences by organizing a ceremony in each institutions.

MARDI is a statutory body incorporated under the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute Act 11 in 1969, which committed to conduct research in agriculture, food and agro-based industries. MARDI research endeavors for more than 50 years had fruitfully generated many new crop varieties and animal breeds. In the field of horticulture and livestock, the research on food processing and post-harvest handling technology, as well as the application of Information Communication Technology in farm management and agricultural resources and environmental management is at a leading level. MARDI had contributed to the development of the national food, agriculture and agro-based industries.

YAAS and MARDI established mutual trust and friendship dating back to 19th century. In the year of 2006, Minister of Department of Agriculture of Malaysia visited YAAS, and the president of YAAS led a delegation to visit MARDI to strengthen the relationship between two institutions.

In 2021, YAAS and Consulate General of Malaysia in Kunming jointly held a video exchange meeting and a project recommendation meeting with Education Section of the Embassy of Malaysia in Beijing respectively. In 2022, YAAS and MARDI jointly held an online meeting with the the support from the Embassy of Malaysia and Consulate General of Malaysia in Kunming. Based on the consensus of the online meeting, YAAS and MARDI signed the MoU to strengthen the bilateral cooperation in the field of agriculture technology.

This is the first international cooperation agreement of YAAS which signed after the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Under the framework of MoU, the two parts will carry out in-depth practical cooperation in academic exchanges, information resource sharing, platform mechanism construction as well as personnel training and exchange. (reviewed by: Yanjie Luo)