On December 3 to 4, the 2016 Annual Conference of Chinese Society of Citrus and the 1st Guang’an Agricultural Fair was held in Guang’an, Sichuan Province. About 1,000 people of experts, scholars, citrus distributors, agricultural distributors and planters attended the conference.

Deng Xiuxin, president of HZAU and Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) attended the conference, together with 30 teachers and students from the College of Plant Science & Technology, College of Horticulture & Forestry Sciences and College of Economics & Management. They submitted 23 abstracts, 18 posters and delivered a plenary lecture as well as 5 group reports on the latest research progress in the field of citrus including citrus fertilization, cultivation, industrial economy, prevention and control of psylla, mycorrhizal interaction and aroma research. The 14 "Yang Cup" 2016 annual excellent papers were commended in the conference. HZAU won 1 first prize, 1 second prize and 1 third prize.

At the opening ceremony, President Deng expressed that the attendees should take full advantage of this opportunity to conduct extensive exchanges, learn useful experience and methods from citrus cultivation of Guang’an, so as to jointly promote healthy and sustainable development of citrus industry.

After the opening ceremony, Chen Xiwen，former Deputy Director of the Central Leading Group for Rural Work, delivered an agricultural special counseling report to the delegates entitled To Promote Structural Reform of the Supply Side and Improve China's Agricultural International Competitiveness and Comprehensive Benefits. Eight leaders and experts including Prof. Hu Chengxiao from the College of Resources and Environment of HZAU gave keynote speeches. The experts also conducted in-depth discussion on citrus basic research and industrial technology innovation, observed the citrus producing areas of Guang’an, and shared their insights with the local citrus planters.

Tr. by Xiong Congbo