From December 2-3, 2023 Maritime Silk Road International Conference on the Cooperation and Integration of lndustry, Education, Research and Application (IERA)---International Symposium on Genetic Breeding and Cultivation Technology for Integration of lERA was held in Guangxi University. The conference was co-sponsored by the Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and Guangxi University, and co-organized by the School of Agriculture, the School of Life Science and Technology of Guangxi University and the State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources. Wu Jinchang, Deputy Director-General of the Education Department of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Yu Wenjin, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Guangxi University Committee and Vice President of GXU attended the opening ceremony and made speeches.

Wu Jinchang said that the conference is an important platform for the comprehensive implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping and the promotion of IERA exchanges and cooperation among universities, research institutes and enterprises in different countries and regions involved in the B&R. He pointed out that the deep integration of industries, education, research and application is not only conducive to promoting the transformation of economic growth mode from production factor-driven to innovation-driven, but also can enhance the IERA cooperation among enterprises, universities, research institutes and other enterprises. He hoped that Guangxi’s universities can integrate into the new process of high-quality development of international IERA cooperation, coordinate “bringing in” and “going out”, promoting all-round, multi-level and wide-ranging education opening and cooperation.

Yu Wenjin pointed out that Guangxi is one of the starting points of the Maritime Silk Road, the only ethnic autonomous region along the coast, border and river in China, and the international gateway hub connecting China and ASEAN countries. Given its location advantage, Guangxi plays a prominent role in facilitating IERA cooperation among countries along the "Belt and Road". He hoped that experts can share ideas and experience through in-depth discussions at the conference for more comprehensive IERA cooperation on the Maritime Silk Road.

Twenty-six experts and scholars at home and abroad made academic reports and exchanges on the latest research results and development trends in the fields of molecular-assisted breeding, gene mining, sugarcane genetic improvement, new crop breeding technology development, and efficient crop cultivation mode. Innovative suggestions and forward-looking forecasts were put forward for major issues such as the discovery of important trait genes, the creation of new crop germplasm, new varieties, and the development trend of sugar industry.

After the conference, some offline participants also visited the State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro- Bioresources, the Research Center for Sugarcane Biological Breeding, Guangxi Key Laboratory of Sugarcane Biology and Guangxi Subtropical Agricultural Science New Town.

The conference was held online and offline, and over 300 experts and scholars from the United States, Pakistan, Indonesia, Fiji, Australia, as well as domestic and foreign universities, research institutes and enterprises such as Institute of Microbiology of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Agricultural Genomics Institute at Shenzhen (AGIS), Zhejiang University, Sichuan Agricultural University and Guizhou University participated in the discussion.