A 4-person delegation of the Organization of Indigenous Peoples in Suriname (OIS) paid a visit to XTBG on April 11, at the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The delegation was headed up by Mr. Ronald R. Aloema, president of OIS and member of the coordinating body of the Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA).

Knowing about XTBG’s achievements in ethnobotanic studies and interrelationship between indigenous peoples and tropical rainforests, Mr. Aloema showed interest in cooperating in traditional ethnic forest culture conservation, ecotourism, and personnel exchange.

It is the first time that the indigenous Indians in Suriname sent delegation to China and XTBG was chosen as an important stop.

Suriname lies on the northeast coast of South America, with Guyana to the west, French Guiana to the east, and Brazil to the south. It is a remote, relatively inaccessible country with both the highest percentage of rainforest cover and one of the lowest population densities on earth.