To deeply implement the important expositions of General Secretary of CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping on the "Agriculture, Rural Areas and Rural Residents" work, promote the comprehensive rural vitalization and the construction of a powerful agricultural country, and support the development of new quality productive forces of agriculture, the 2024 Leisi International Conference was held in JSU from April 27 to 29. It was organized by the Chinese Society for Agricultural Machinery, China Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers, Chinese Society of Agricultural Engineering, China Agriculture Mechanization Association, and China Agricultural Machinery Distribution Association, and hosted by Jiangsu University (JSU), Jiangsu Province and Education Ministry Co-sponsored Synergistic Innovation Center of Modern Agricultural Equipment, and International University Consortium for Agricultural Engineering. Experts in the field of agricultural engineering at home and abroad, representatives from universities and research institutes, leaders from relevant provincial and municipal departments, and responsible persons from leading domestic agricultural machinery companies attended the conference. Former Director of Department of Rural Social Services of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Li Weiguo chaired the opening ceremony of the conference.
Secretary of the CPC JSU Committee Prof. Li Hongbo delivered a welcome speech. He pointed out that promoting the development of agricultural science and technology, and strengthening the independent development and manufacturing of high-end intelligent agricultural machinery and equipment are not only focal points of concern of the government but also inherent demands and urgent needs for achieving the comprehensive rural vitalization and accelerating the construction of an agricultural powerhouse. This conference plays an important role in promoting the innovative development of intelligent agricultural machinery and smart agriculture, aiding the development of new agricultural quality productive forces, and comprehensively promoting rural vitalization.
Secretary Li Hongbo stated that JSU will summarize and make good use of the outcomes of this conference, further enhance its advantages in agricultural machinery education, and strive to build an important base for cultivating high-quality and innovative talents of modern agricultural equipment. JSU also aims to develop an important platform for the research and development of high-end intelligent agricultural equipment, striving to become a significant force in serving rural vitalization and promoting the intelligent mechanization of agriculture. This effort is intended to contribute new and greater achievements towards the modernization of agriculture and rural areas and the construction of an agricultural powerhouse.
Vice Chairman of Jiangsu Provincial Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of China National Democratic Construction Association, and Chairman of the Jiangsu Provincial Committee Hong Huimin, stated in his speech that Leisi International Conference has gradually become a branded event in China's agricultural equipment sector. It is a beneficial measure to implement the spirit of the important speeches and directives of General Secretary Xi Jinping, providing a good platform for exchange among the government, universities, and the industrial sector. This conference is of great significance for promoting the development of new agricultural quality productive forces in Jiangsu. He pointed out that, as the convergence point of "science and technology as the primary productive force, talent as the primary resource, and innovation as the primary driving force," Jiangsu higher education has the responsibility, conditions, and capability to contribute significantly to the mission of leading the modernization of agriculture and rural areas. He hoped that the domestic and international experts in agricultural mechanization, as well as business elites attending the conference, can exchange new ideas and establish new collaborations. Together, they aim to propel Jiangsu's development into an important stronghold of new quality productive forces, contributing significantly to the modernization of agriculture and rural areas in China and promoting comprehensive rural vitalization.
A-level inspector from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Jiangsu Province Shen Yi, Deputy Director of the Industry and Information Technology Department of Jiangsu Zhang Xing, Senior inspector from the Jiangsu Education Department Zhou Jiuhua, Executive Vice President of the China Association of Agricultural Machinery Manufacturers Zhao Yanshui, and Project Consultant of the Centre for Sustainable Agricultural Mechanization of United Nations Karen Martinez, each delivered a speech at the opening ceremony.
At the opening ceremony, Vice President of World Group Zhuang Jianqing, and Vice President of JSU Prof. Zou Xiaobo jointly unveiled the plaque for the Integration between Industry and Education Key Base of Jiangsu Province in Intelligent Agricultural Machinery Equipment. Deputy Minister of Publicity and Research Department of Jiangsu Association for Science and Technology Yang Dongsheng, and Vice Chancellor Vice President of JSU Prof. Chen Hong jointly unveiled the plaque for the Science and Technology Innovation Think Tank Base of Jiangsu Province.
At the ceremony, Deputy Secretary of the CPC JSU Committee Zhang Jijian, Deputy General Manager of Kedong (Guangzhou) Software Technology Co., Ltd. Yu Yuan, Executive Vice-president of Shanghai Jiao Tong University's Research Institute of Carbon Neutrality Lin He, Director of Research Institute at AUBO (Beijing) Robotics Technology Co., Ltd. Song Zhongkang, and Director of Jiangsu Jitri Intelligent Manufacturing
Technical Research Institute Co., Ltd. Luo Minzhou, jointly unveiled the plaques for four joint laboratories, including “Agricultural Robot Operating System” “Off-Road Engine Electronic Control ECU” “Multi-arm Robot System” and “Electro-hydraulic Servo Humanoid Robot for Dexterous Operations”.
Vice President Li Hong awarded the core demonstration base of the National Artificial Intelligence and Agricultural Robot Innovation Center. Vice President of Shanghai Lankuaikei Technology Wang Heqiao, Deputy General Manager of Sweet Fruit Industry Co., Ltd. Yuan Dongdong, and Executive Deputy General Manager of Zhuofei (Dongying) Agricultural Science and Technology Research Institute Co., Ltd. Chen Xiao accepted the bronze plaque.
During the keynote speech session following the opening ceremony, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering Chen Xuegeng, Former Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Zhang Tianzuo, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Ye Yujiang, Chief Engineer of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Mechanization Sciences and Director of the National Engineering Center for Agricultural Production Machinery and Equipment Fang Xianfa, Director and Secretary of the Party Committee of Nanjing Institute of Agricultural Mechanization, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Zhou Guomin, and President of JSU Prof. Xing Weihong, delivered keynote speeches on various topics. These topics included management of farmland residual film pollution, Chinese-style agricultural modernization, agricultural scientific and technological innovation, agricultural equipment technology, development of agricultural machinery equipment from a digital perspective, and contributing JSU’s strength to cultivating and developing new quality productive forces in agriculture.
During the conference, several related events were held, including a technology exchange and industry advancement meeting of hybrid power agricultural machinery product, a Spare Parts Branch’s chairman (expanded) meeting, the council and expert committee meeting of Jiangsu Province and Education Ministry Co-sponsored Synergistic Innovation Center of Modern Agricultural Equipment, the academic committee meeting and the 2024 national agricultural robot industry science and technology innovation consortium annual meeting of the national digital agricultural equipment (artificial intelligence and agricultural robots) innovation sub-center, a dialogue between the educational and industrial sectors of intelligent agricultural machinery equipment, a forum on the integration of the "good farmland, good seeds, good machinery and good practices" and the development of new quality productive forces in agriculture, and a consultation meeting on the development of disciplines related to smart agriculture and intelligent agricultural machinery equipment.
All university leaders, heads of relevant functional departments and schools, as well as representatives of teachers and students, attended the conference.
