On July 15, the Seminar on Natural Rubber Production and Management for ASEAN Countries, hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and organized by the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS), concluded successfully in Haikou, Hainan. Experts and technical officials in the rubber sector from three ASEAN countries—Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia—completed the training program. Li Jihua, Vice President of CATAS, attended the closing ceremony and presented certificates to the participants.
Li Jihua extended his warm congratulations to the participants who successfully completed the program. He noted that China and ASEAN countries are connected by shared mountains and rivers, bound by a common destiny, and are each other's most important trading partners. As the world's largest consumer and importer of natural rubber, China complements ASEAN, the world's largest natural rubber producer, in the rubber industry. In recent years, with the deepening implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP), China and ASEAN have achieved fruitful results in rubber trade and scientific cooperation. This training program was not only a platform for technical exchange but also an important practice in advancing the Belt and Road Initiative and deepening the construction of a China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
Li Jihua proposed three cooperation initiatives to the participants. First, accelerate the establishment of the "China-ASEAN Joint Laboratory for Rubber Variety Breeding," focusing on breakthroughs in key technologies for breeding stress-resistant and high-yield varieties. Second, build a modern agricultural technology extension system covering the entire region to promote the application of innovations such as electric tapping equipment. Third, establish long-term cooperation mechanisms, including regular forums and technical personnel exchanges, to deepen practical collaboration. CATAS will continue to leverage its role as a national-level research institution to drive the regional rubber industry toward green, efficient, and sustainable development, contributing scientific and technological strength to a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future.
Ms. Prasanti Amelia Dewi, an official from Indonesia’s Ministry of Trade, spoke highly of the program’s outcomes and expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chinese government and CATAS for their meticulous organization and hospitality. She was particularly impressed by China’s technological innovations in rubber breeding and pest control, especially electric tapping equipment and TPD rehabilitating technology, which offer valuable insights for improving production efficiency. Ms.Dewi expressed hope for continued communication and deepened cooperation to address challenges and seize opportunities in the natural rubber industry for mutual benefit.
Over the 15-day program, participants visited multiple cities and counties, including Haikou, Danzhou, Changjiang, Sanya, and Wanning. They engaged in 12 thematic lectures, 8 field visits, 4 discussions, and IRRDB international workshop on TPD rehabilitating technology. The curriculum covered natural rubber breeding, green pest control, tapping process optimization, and industrial economic development, combining cutting-edge laboratory research with hands-on field experience to showcase China’s innovations across the entire natural rubber industry chain.
The successful conclusion of the program marks a significant step in China-ASEAN rubber cooperation, transitioning from traditional trade to deep integration in scientific and technological innovation. As one participant remarked, "We take away not only technical solutions but also the profound friendships forged with Chinese colleagues, which will serve as a solid foundation for future collaboration." Looking ahead, both sides will continue to leverage technological innovation as a bond to advance the high-quality development of the natural rubber industry and write a new chapter of win-win cooperation.
