Members of the 2^nd Directorate of the Southeast Asia Biodiversity Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS-SEABRI) gathered together in Kunming on June 16 for its first conference. They summed up achievements and mainly discussed future work.

CAS vice president Zhang Yaping, who’s also chairman of CAS-SEABRI, was present.

Prof. Chen Jin, director of Xihsuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden (XTBG) and director of CAS-SEABRI, chaired the meeting and gave report on work progress. Prof. Quan Ruichang made report on financial status.

Speaking at the conference, all members of the directorate and insiders fully affirmed the achievements made by CAS-SEABRI, and offered advice and suggestions. They discussed the key areas of the future work, expansion of research directions, how to deal with the relevant difficulties and challenges, the introduction of international talent and significant achievements in output planning and so on.

 CAS vice president Zhang Yaping said that the CAS-SEABRI achieved great progress and achievements under the support of the participating institutions, CAS Bureau of International Cooperation and other departments, although it is still young.

Zhang Yaping encouraged CAS-SEABRI (and its concerning institutes) to further strengthen cooperation with related institutions and standardize its management and operation as an overseas institution. For scientific research, CAS-SEABRI should improve research capacity and endeavor to turn out a batch of influential breakthroughs.

As an overseas institution, CAS-SEABRI is expected to concern livelihood of the based country, to carry out projects that benefit local people and expand its influence, so as to serve China’s Belt and Road Initiative, added Zhang Yaping.

CAS-SEARBI is to increase publicity to improve its social impact and international status; actively seek more channels of funding and strengthen its development to achieve its construction objectives gradually.