Holding a thumb-sized ear of corn in his hand, Prak Thaveak Amida examined the unusual local crop and asked how it was grown after taking a bite of a purple variety with a fruity flavor.
"This is my second visit to Xishuangbanna, but it's my first time trying this corn. It has a very interesting taste," said Prak, an under-secretary of state at the Cambodian Ministry of Information.
The tasting was one of several activities arranged for participants in the 2026 Global Mayors Dialogue, held from July 14 to 16 in Xishuangbanna Dai autonomous prefecture, Yunnan province. Across several field-visit routes, participants visited an agricultural facility, residential communities and Wild Elephant Valley, where mayors and other international guests learned about the prefecture's efforts in agricultural innovation, community development and environmental protection.
The corn tasting took place at a waxy corn processing facility operated by Dai Xiansheng Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. Liao Mengmeng, the company's general manager, introduced the thumb-sized corn as a traditional local variety that has long been grown in Xishuangbanna.
Liao explained that the corn's flavor and appearance can change after two or three years of cultivation because of its genetic instability. To improve its consistency, the company has partnered with Huazhong Agricultural University on genetic purification, rejuvenation and crossbreeding.
"Agricultural biotechnology in China is advancing rapidly," Prak said. "This is far more than ordinary corn. It's a newly developed variety."
The group then visited Wanjing Community in Jinghong city, where participants sampled dumplings and played card games with residents. They were also introduced to the neighborhood's shared facilities, which include spaces for dancing, painting, calligraphy and chess, as well as a communal kitchen.
Cai Hui, secretary of the community's general Party branch, told the delegates that, in addition to providing shared spaces, the community also encourages residents to take part in neighborhood governance to help ease the workload of its limited staff. This is particularly important during the peak tourism season from November to April, when people from across China travel to Xishuangbanna to spend the winter in its mild climate.
At Wild Elephant Valley, delegates learned about local efforts to strike a balance between tourism and wildlife conservation.
They walked along an elevated viewing walkway, observing wild Asian elephants and signs of their activity in the rainforest below.
"Elephants belong to the rainforest, so we have given the ground-level habitat back to them," said Xu Ping, a guide at the site.
Masood Khalid, a former Pakistani ambassador to China, said the surroundings offered a vivid example of coexistence between people and wildlife.
"I'm sure that the next time I come to Xishuangbanna, I will see even more improvements," he said.
