Rice industry delegates attend Sanya events

The 3rd International Forum on Rice, and the 1st International Rice Expo, opens in Sanya, South China's Hainan province on April 11. [Photo/hinews.cn]

A pair of events focusing on China's most famous staple food item opened in Sanya, the southernmost city of Hainan province on April 11.

The 3rd International Forum on Rice and the first International Rice Expo are taking place in the tropical city and are set to conclude on April 14.

The event is being sponsored by the government of Sanya, the agricultural and technological departments of Hainan, Hainan Association for Science and Technology, and Nanfang Media Group.

Over 700 individuals from the worlds of agriculture and business are attending the event, with many having traveled from overseas. 

The attendees are there to share their ideas and innovations in the field of rice breeding. 

People due to speak at the event include top academics and industry experts, with discussions taking place at innovation forums and industry summits – the International Rice Expo will be the most significant.

The Belt and Road Initiative's role in the industry will also be a hot topic during the event. 

A woman samples some rice at the International Rice Expo. The event is exhibiting various hybrids from Burma, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. [Photo/hinews.cn]

Yuan Longping, a famous Chinese agronomist known for developing the first hybrid rice varieties, speaks at the opening ceremony of the 3rd International Forum on Rice on April 11. [Photo/people.cn]

The forum and expo represent an opportunity to increase international cooperation and explore how to create more value by extending the industry chain. 

With China's rice industry now increasingly focused on quality, the event is designed to help make Sanya a pilot zone for the industry, where domestic firms can partner with foreign companies.