China Perspective

China, Brazil launch joint science venture

By Jin Zhu (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-04-14 14:32

Chinese and Brazilian scientific institutions launched a joint laboratory for agricultural research on Wednesday to strengthen scientific collaboration between the two countries.

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The lab, located in the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing, will focus on studying genetic resources, animal husbandry, veterinary science, agroecology, environmental science, range science to name a few.

The lab is the first agricultural joint lab set up between China and a South American country.

Zhai Huqu, president of the CAAS, said at the opening ceremony that the two countries have complementary advantages and great potential for long-term agricultural scientific cooperation.

Another Sino-Brazil joint lab will be built next year in the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa, in Rio de Janeiro, which will be the first joint agricultural program by China in a foreign country, Zhai said.

The two institutions will also allow exchanges of researchers and students to fully utilize the scientific expertise in both institutions, he said. Both China and Brazil are leading agricultural countries among developing countries.