Dr. LU Yongxiang, the President of Chinese Academy of Sciences met with Dr. Ralph Cicerone, the President of National Academy of Sciences on May 17, 2010 during his visit to the United States of America.

Dr. LU and Dr. Ralph Cicerone held discussion about the role science plays in sustainable development and the science fields that require special cooperation between China and U.S. science communities.

In terms of conducting strategic joint research, Dr. LU and Dr. Ralph Cicerone both agreed that the two parties can work together on building smart grid. Dr. LU introduced to Dr. Ralph Cicerone CAS Visiting Professorships and Young Fellowship Programs. He pointed out that these programs can follow up with the Sino-US Symposium on Scientific Frontiers, and CAS would support American young scholars to conduct joint research with CAS researchers.

LU also exchanged ideas with Dr. Ralph Cicerone about the influences national academies exercise in the decision-making process within state governments, the development trend of energy industry, and the challenges faced by new science frontiers.

During his one-week visit, LU also met with the Vice Minister of the Department of Energy, Steven Koonin, and other U.S. senior officials and scientists.

At LU’s witness, the Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, CAS and U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) also signed an MOU. The two parties will broaden their cooperation in agriculture, preservations of natural resources, and public sanitation and safety while strengthening their collaboration in monitoring epidemic diseases of wild animal, such as the bird-flu.

Before his departure, LU also visited the Washington University, Institute for Systems Biology and Mauna Kea Observatories based in Hawaii.