Senior researchers gave twenty-five presentations on this symposium from several reputable universities and institutions in both countries. Exchanges of ideas, advances and updated knowledge in mycology and fungal biotechnology related subjects have been made. Delegates from both countries have taken this opportunity to meet with colleagues in their areas and some have initiated mutual and beneficial collaborations.

Based on the discussions made on this symposium, scientists attending the Beijing symposium suggested that NRF and NSFC should further enhance future collaborations on fungal bioresources and application between the scientists from the two countries. Both NSFC and NRF valued the China-South Africa cooperation in this area, which has been regarded as a key point toward a sustainable growth in both countries.

The delegates also visited the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC) and the Mycological Herbarium (HMAS) in Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS).

Eleven South African delegates and 28 Chinese delegates attended this symposium. Welcome speeches were given by Prof. DONG Xiuzhu (Deputy Director-General of IMCAS), Dr. Pillay (Deputy CEO of NRF) and Prof. Zhang Yinglan (Director of Division, Bureau of International Cooperation, NSFC).

This symposium was hosted and organized by the State Key Laboratory of Mycology, IMCAS and sponsored by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF).

--Group Photo (by IMCAS)--