On February 20, 2019, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, the Secretary-General of CBCGFDF, at the invitation of internationally renowned pangolin expert Dr. Zhu Shaohe, went to Suzhou, China to meet with Professor Xi Youmin, the principal of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University.

The two sides exchanged views on the protection of pangolins, the illegal trade status of pangolins, the scientific and technological research on gene sequencing of pangolins, and the biodiversity conservation under ecological civilization, and signed a cooperation agreement for the “China Pangolin Research Center”. Relevant experts, scholars and staff immediately start related work of the research center, preparation of funds, and construction of infrastructure. The two sides expressed their confidence to build this research center into the world's leading pangolin research institution and become one of the important strategic measures to promote China's ecological civilization thought to the world.

After the meeting began, Dr. Zhou emphasized that at the present stage of industrial civilization, wild animals including pangolins are experiencing enormous survival challenges. Among them, pangolin has become the world's largest illicit trade mammal and has replaced ivory has become the world's most watched wildlife. Under the huge opportunity of China's participation in global environmental governance, the establishment of the "China Pangolin Research Center" and the detection of the whole genome of pangolins not only protects the pangolin from a scientific point of view, but also promotes the China’s pangolin science research to the top of the world.

Professor Shu Youmin introduced the development plan of Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University. He said that Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University is very willing to carry out protection and scientific research on pangolins, and it is imperative to establish a "China Pangolin Research Center". Professor Xi immediately deployed the work of the “China Pangolin Research Center” and proposed that Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University's Professor of Biological Sciences Wang Mu, pangolins expert Dr. Zhu Shaohe serve as the vice chairman and director of the "China Pangolin Research Center". Dr. Zhou Jinfeng serves as the first chairman of the “China Pangolin Research Center”.

After the signing ceremony of the cooperation agreement, accompanied by Dr. Zhu Shaohe, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng visited the relevant laboratories of the “China Pangolin Research Center”. According to Dr. Zhu, the “China Pangolin Research Center” will open applications for graduate students and doctoral students. Students who wish to devote themselves to wildlife conservation and who volunteer to do so are welcome to participate in the application.

The first leading team of the Chinese Pangolin Research Center, from left to right: Professor Wang Mu, Professor Xi Youmin, Dr. Zhou Jinfeng, Dr. Zhu Shaohe.

Chairman Dr. Zhou Jinfeng

Vice Chairman Professor Wang Mu

Director Dr. Zhu Shaohe

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

By / Niu Jingmei