This Day, That Year

Editor's note: This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of New China.

On Sept 16, 2002, the first International Rice Congress kicked off in Beijing, attracting more than 1,000 scientists and officials worldwide to discuss issues concerning the development of the rice industry, as seen in this item from China Daily.

Dubbed the "Olympics of Rice Science", it has been held every four years. The fifth congress was held in Singapore last year.