BEIJING, Jan 27, 2026 — The Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IMCAS) hosted a high-level delegation from the Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil today to foster bilateral cooperation in public health, biotechnology, and agriculture. The meeting, co-organized by the CAS-TWAS Centre of Excellence for Emerging Infectious Diseases (CEEID), underscored a shared commitment to addressing global challenges through scientific solidarity.

    The session opened with welcome remarks from Prof. Wei Qian, Director-General of IMCAS, Ms. Letícia Frazão Leme, Minister-Counsellor of the Brazilian Embassy, and TWAS fellow, Prof. George Fu Gao, Director of the China-Brazil Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Tropical Microbiology.

    Providing the institutional context for this cooperation, Prof. Qihui Wang introduced IMCAS's distinguished history and research capabilities, positioning the institute as a global leader in microbiological innovation and pathogen surveillance. She highlighted the institute’s strategic commitment to internationalization, which provides the essential infrastructure for high-level bilateral partnerships. Assoc. Prof. Liang Wang then illustrated how the enduring collaboration between IMCAS and Fiocruz fostered the launch of the China-Brazil Joint Laboratory, catalyzing extensive scientific and medicinal collaborations between the two nations.

    A focal point of the meeting was the presentation by Prof. Junhao Zhu, newly appointed Executive Deputy Director of CEEID, on the scope and vision of CEEID. Prof. Zhu outlined CEEID’s mandate to safeguard humanity through four strategic pillars: Connect (building global networks), Empower (cultivating talent), Equip (sharing resources), and Protect (developing countermeasures). He emphasized that CEEID aims to bridge inequality in global health security, ensuring that nations like Brazil and China can stand together against future infectious diseases challenges.

    The dialogue quickly moved to concrete areas of collaboration. Minister-Counsellor Leme expressed strong interest in expanding student exchange programs, directly aligning with CEEID’s "Empower" pillar to train the next generation of scientists. She also highlighted the need for bilateral collaboration on clinical trials and intercontinental cooperation on emerging infectious diseases, reinforcing the missions of the Joint Laboratory.

    Broadening the scope beyond health, the delegation explored opportunities in the next-generation sugar cane industry, following a presentation on agricultural cooperation by Prof. Jie Zhang. The meeting also featured insights into data sharing from Prof. Juncai Ma, Director of the World Data Center for Microorganisms.

    The visit concluded with a consensus to leverage the CEEID platform and the Joint Laboratory as bridges for deep, substantive cooperation, embodying the spirit of the Brazilian proverb quoted during the session: "If you want to go far, go together."