On June 6, 2008, Prof. Shen Wenqing, Vice President of NSFC, met with the delegation from the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), headed by its Director General Prof. Robert S. Zeigler.

During the meeting, both sides expressed their satisfaction with the cooperation since the MOU was signed, and hoped to strengthen it in the future. The two sides reached preliminary agreement for co-organizing a joint symposium in China in 2008. NSFC and IRRI signed the MOU in 2000 and renewed in 2007.

Other delegates are Mr. Duncan Macintosh, Development Director of IRRI, Dr. Zhao Ming, the Liaison Scientist of IRRI China Office, and Mr. Wang Zhongqiu, Office Manager of China Office. Prof. Chang Qing, Deputy Director General of NSFC Bureau of International Cooperation also attended the meeting.