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The CGIAR will hold its Mid-Term Meeting (MTM99) in Beijing, China, from Monday, May 24 to Friday, May 28, 1999. The meeting will be hosted by the Government of the People's Republic of China (Ministry of Agriculture). Hundreds of scientists, agricultural researchers, representatives of non-governmental organizations, and others are expected to attend the business sessions at the Kunlun Hotel, No. 2 Xin Yuan Nan Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
The theme of MTM99 is "The Third System Review: From Proposals to Practice." An independent panel of experts headed by Maurice Strong, Chairman of the Earth Council and Secretary-General of the UN Conference on Environment and Development, conducted the assessment of the CGIAR in 1997-98.
The Review Panel concluded that the CGIAR is an "extraordinary resource" for providing agricultural knowledge to improve the lives of the poor and hungry in developing countries. They presented twenty-nine key recommendations on science, partnerships, governance and finance to help position the CGIAR for the 21st Century. CGIAR members will decide on those recommendations and an implementation plan at MTM99.