Director General Dr. Cheng Shihua attended the 22^nd IRC Meeting at the headquarter of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations(FAO) in Rome during 28^th- 30^th November 2012. IRC,set up in 1949, is a specialized committee under FAO, committing to promote collaborations among member countries in rice production, storage, sales and distribution, and cosumption(except for international trade). IRC investigates and examines problems related to rice science, technology and economy, encourages and coordinates cooperation and research. It plays an important role in rice technology application, cooperative project implementation and information dissemination. Presently, 62 countries and districts have joined IRC. CNRRI is the contact unit of China to IRC, authorised by MOA. Cheng, as Permernant Representative of China, took part in the meeting, and shared perspectives of China's future development of IRC.

During the meeting, Cheng visited Permanent Representation of the People’s Republic of China to the UN Agencies for Food and Agriculture, and discussed existing problems and future developmental direction of IRC with their Director General Mr.Xia Jingyuan and staff. Also, both sides involved in exchanging and discussing views and visions on ways to further strengthen collaborations and to expand Chinese rice’s international influences.