China establishes agriculture think tank

The Institute for China Agricultural Development Strategy was established Friday, aiming to become a world-class think tank for the Chinese government.

The institute will focus on cutting-edge agricultural sciences and technologies and conduct research of strategic and global importance covering a wide range of areas, also providing consulting services, according to the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Science.

The institute was jointly launched by CAAS and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, a top think tank in China.

The institute will integrate resources from top institutes, universities and enterprises in agriculture in China, including top experts, for major scientific breakthroughs.

Major tasks of the institute include supporting modernization of China's agriculture and rural areas, the Central government's "Rural Revitalization Strategy", and agricultural scientific and technological development, according to CAAS.

The institute will also provide consulting services for important decision making, including intensifying agricultural structural reform, improving competitiveness of China's agriculture, promoting green and sustainable agricultural development and formulating and evaluating agricultural policies and regulations, CAAS said.

The institute will also promote international cooperation in agriculture and establish partnerships with first-class international institutes to produce leading agricultural talents, it said.

It is expected the institute will become an integral part of China's research power, and a government think tank with competitive advantage in the next five years.