On January 23, Prof. Sun Tan, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), met with a visiting delegation led by Mr. Dipepenene Serage, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Agriculture of South Africa. The two sides exchanged views on deepening agricultural science and technology cooperation between China and South Africa. 

Prof. Sun noted that, under the strategic guidance of both heads of state, CAAS and South Africa have achieved significant results in crop breeding, animal and plant disease control, and agricultural environmental protection. He suggested that future cooperation should focus on industry needs, particularly in the prevention and control of major animal diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza.

Prof. Sun also proposed promoting the localized application of CAAS's advanced diagnostic and vaccine technologies in South Africa. He called for expanded cooperation in smart farming and carbon reduction, as well as deepened joint research and capacity building under the China-Africa Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Alliance (CAASTIA), aiming to establish a new model of South-South cooperation.

Mr. Serage endorsed Sun's suggestions, expressing a willingness to advance practical cooperation in areas including foot-and-mouth disease vaccines and bee health. He emphasized leveraging mechanisms such as the respective agricultural ministries and CAASTIA to promote sustainable agricultural development for both sides.

Dr. Litha Magingxa, President and CEO of the Agricultural Research Council (ARC) of South Africa, and Dr. Faith Peta, an expert from ARC's foot-and-mouth disease vaccine development program, are part of the delegation. Officials from the CAAS Department of International Cooperation, the Institute of Animal Sciences (IAS), the Harbin Veterinary Research Institute (HVRI), and the Lanzhou Veterinary Research Institute (LVRI) attended the meeting. During the visit, the delegation also conducted field visits to LVRI and IAS and held discussions with experts from HVRI.