During September 10^th-12^th 2012, Director General Dr.Cheng Shihua led a 12-staff delegation to Hyderabad, India, participating in 6^th International Hybrid Rice Symposium which was organized by the International Rice Research Institute and the Directorate of Rice Research, Indian Council of Agricultural Research.

The symposium held every four years is the highest communication platform for every country focusing on hybrid rice research and development. The event gathered hybrid rice researchers, experts, and representatives from the public and private sectors. The symposium aims to create a discussion platform that tackles the issue of increasing rice yields to adapt to the world’s increasing demand for rice. The symposium discussed the topics: Hybrid Rice Development; Hybrid Rice Seed Production; Applications of Molecular Technology; Crop and Resource Management, and Hybrid Rice Economics. The 3-day program featured keynote lectures, paper presentation sessions, workshops, field visit and hybrid rice technology exhibit.

As a committee member, Cheng delivered a keynote speech on the topic of Progress of China’s Hybrid Rice Breeding Program, introducing CNRRI’s glorious history and latest progress. He proposed the vision of future hybrid rice development. China's success of super rice breeding and production attracted attendees’ eyeballs, especially for rice breeding experts. Afterwards, Cheng accepeted interviews from India media.

During the course of the meeting, Cheng and Dr. E. A. Siddiq jointly held the section of National Report Special. Dr.Cao Liyong and Dr.Zhu Defeng made keynote reports on the topic of Annual Report of Chinese Research and Development, and of Progress of China’s Hybrid Rice Breeding Program respectively. Other delegation staff presented brochures of CNRRI’s newly updated research achievements to attending representatives.

From September 13^th-14^th, Cheng, as the Representative of China, participated in 16^th Annual Meeting of Council for Partnership on Rice Research in Asia. Also, he took field trips to investigate recent progresses of crop breeding of ICRISAT.

At the invitation of Devgen Company, Cheng visited their breeding and varieties demonstration base, initiating deep discussions with the company.