Dr. Kaba Urgessa, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ethiopia led a delegation to visit Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, escorted by Dr. Fu Jinhe, East Africa Regional Coordinator at INBAR from 14^th to 15^th Nov. Mr. Wang Yangdong, Deputy Director General, Mr. Zhuo Renying, research fellow, Mr. Long Bangchu, research fellow, Mr. Xie Jinzhong, associate research fellow, and related staff from the Division of Scientific Research attended the seminar.

At the seminar, Mr. Wang Yangdong welcomed the delegation led by Dr. Kaba Urgessa, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources of Ethiopia, on behalf of Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry. Staff from the Division of Scientific Research introduced the basic situation of Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry, and its bamboo research and international cooperation. Dr. Kaba Urgessa introduced the situation of Ethiopian bamboo and his aim of visit. Afterwards, the two sides discussed on selection of resistant bamboo species, compound management of bamboo and forests, vegetative propagation of bamboo and invasion of alien bamboo species, and reached willingness for cooperation. Dr. Kaba Urgessa visited the forest tree species genetic engineering lab of Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry and Miaoshanwu Bamboo Park.

Ethiopia is situated in the middle-east of Africa. With a population almost 100 million, it has the second largest population in Africa. The cover of bamboo forest is nearly 1 million ha, accounting for one third of that in sub-Saharan Africa, and 5% of that in the world (about 22 million ha.). The main species include yushania niitakayamensis and gigantochloa. (Tong Jiejie, Research Institute of Subtropical Forestry)