The Local and International Organizing Committees extend to you a most warm welcome to China and the first International Plant Vascular Biology and Agriculture Conference.

This meeting represents a logical continuation of the PVB 2007 meeting convened at Academia Sinica, Taipei, where some 350 international participants came together to discuss advances made in our understanding of phloem and xylem function. PVBA will have a specific focus; to examine the role of the plant vascular system in world-wide agriculture, with an emphasis on agricultural research and practices in Asia. We anticipate that, by bringing together international experts and scientists from across Asia, and especially junior scientists, including graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, there will be great synergy in the exchange of information and expertise. We anticipate that one important outcome from these interactions will be the establishment of a global research network, the aim of which will be the coordination of research programs aimed at enhancing both basic and applied knowledge relating to the function of the plant vascular system in production agriculture.

The site for this PVBA will be the Southwest University, Beibei, which is located close to the Chongqing International Airport, making it convenient to both international and regional participants. The close proximity of Southwest University to other universities, including Chongqing University, Sichuan University, will also afford international and regional participants the opportunity to interact with outstanding Chinese scientists and educators. The close ties in agricultural research between Southwest University, Chongqing University, Sichuan University, Chongqing Genetics Society and the University of California, Davis campus, lead to PVBA 2009 being jointly sponsored by these institutions.

Southwest University is a comprehensive and national key university sponsored by the Ministry of Education of China. The university was founded in July, 2005, through the amalgamation of two universities, Southwest China Agriculture University and Southwest China Normal University. The history of both universities can be traced back more than 100 years. Today, Southwest University is one of the "211 Project" universities which get preferential support for their development and construction from the Central Government of China. Currently, enrollment is 80,000 students, with more than 50,000 being full-time students. Many international students are also studying in the bachelors, masters, doctoral and advanced studies programs. The campus is located in Chongqing (one of four municipal cities in China, equal to Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin municipalities), close to such World Heritage sites as the Three Gorges and the Dazu Rock Carvings. In addition, this region of China is the center for the famous and unique Hotpot cuisine.

Wishing you a most productive and stimulating meeting and a pleasant visit to China.