USSEC recently hosted a team consisting of officials from the China Soybean Industry Association (CSIA).  The CSIA is a China government-created association of soy-related industries and academic institutions.

Discussions with the Chinese team covered USSEC / United Soybean Board (USB) / American Soybean Association (ASA); how they interact with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and each other; USSEC’s international marketing programs; and USB’s Domestic Marketing / New Uses / Production programs.  Following presentations by USB Secretary Lewis Bainbridge and ASA grower leaders Danny Murphy and Dean Campbell, plans were made for a group of USB / ASA grower leaders to pay a return visit to CSIA later this year.  USSEC Regional Director - North Asia Paul Burke, China Country Director Xiaoping Zhang, Technical Issues Director Kim Nill, and Elizabeth McLeod (summer intern) hosted the meeting.