On December 15, the university hosted the Inaugural Session of the First Academic Committee ofChina-Hungary Belt and Road Joint Laboratory of Food Science (in Preparation), concurrently with the Unveiling Ceremony of theSouthwest University China-Hungary Belt and Road International Cooperation Pavilion for Food Science. The session was dedicated to advancing scientific and technological collaboration and exchange between China and Hungary in food science, with particular emphasis on the construction and operational framework of the Joint Laboratory (in preparation), thereby systematically fostering synergistic innovation and substantive cooperation between the two parties in associated fields. The event was attended by leaders and expert delegates from relevant Chongqing municipal authorities, the Consulate General of Hungary in Chongqing, the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology, as well as higher education institutions and research organizations from both China and Hungary.

Prior to the official proceedings, the attending guests conducted a tour of theSouthwest University China-Hungary Belt and Road International Cooperation Pavilion for Food Science, during which they were apprised of the laboratory's developmental trajectory and the outcomes of bilateral collaborative efforts.
At the opening ceremony, Professor WangJinjun, President of the university, delivered a welcoming address. Speeches and remarks were subsequently offered by Dr. Krisztina Takács, representative of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Mr. Kürti Tamás, Deputy Consul General of the Consulate General of Hungary in Chongqing; AcademicianXie Mingyong, Vice President of the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology; and delegates from pertinent Chongqing municipal authorities.
In his address, President WangJinjun, on behalf of the university, welcomed the participating experts and dignitaries, outlined the university's academic strengths and institutional accomplishments, with a focused emphasis on its achievements in food science research and education. He further affirmed that the university would regard this meeting as a pivotal commencement point and committo providingcomprehensive institutional support in talent acquisition and development, research investment, and infrastructure construction, with the objective of establishing the Joint Laboratory as a flagship exemplar of Sino-Hungarian scientific collaboration and a premier innovation hub in the food science domain.



During the event, university leadership presented letters of appointment to the members of the First Academic Committee. The meeting witnessed the unveiling of Southwest University China-Hungary Belt and Road International Cooperation Pavilion for Food Science, the inauguration of the Science Popularization Base of the Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology, and the official launch of the Joint Laboratory (in preparation) construction as well as the China–Hungary Belt and Road popular science education series activities in food science. The meeting also issued the "Belt and Road Initiative Initiative for Food Science Popularization and Mutual Learning among Civilizations," the "China–Hungary Health Food Bluebook 2025: Cultural Origins and Industrial Development of Characteristic Fermented Foods in China and Hungary," and unveiled the Joint Laboratory's landmark scientific and technological innovation achievements.
Following the ceremony, the First Academic Committee of the Joint Laboratory (in preparation) convened its inaugural session. During the meeting, the university presented a report on the development plan for the Joint Laboratory (in preparation). The Academic Committee conducted deliberations and discussions on the Laboratory's positioning, operational mechanisms, priority cooperation directions, and talent cultivation, formulating constructive recommendations and suggestions. Professor ChenWei, Chair of the Academic Committee, President of Jiangnan University, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered a concluding address.
This meeting further refined the academic governance and advisory mechanism of the Joint Laboratory (in preparation), clarified the phased construction priorities and cooperation directions, laid a solid foundation for China and Hungary to pursue higher-level, deeper, and more sustainable cooperation in the field of food science, and injectednew momentum into serving the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the high-quality development of the food industry.
(Contributed by ChenJia and ZhouFang; Proofread by YaoShixiang; Reviewed by ZhangBinjia)