Dr. Masaki Kitagawa, Secretary-general of World Materials Research Institute Forum (WMRIF), Emeritus Vice-president, Senior Advisor of National Institute for Materials Science, Japan (NIMS) and his colleague Mr. Masahiro Takemure, General Manager of International Affairs Office of NIMS visited IMR from 17th to 18th December. During their visit, Director Ke Lu and Deputy Director Huiming Cheng met with Japanese guests, and Dr. Kitagawa delivered a brief introduction of the 3rd WMRIF, both sides agreed to hold the 4th WMRIF in IMR from 22-26 May, 2011, and also discussed working plan of the 4th WMRIF.

During the Japanese guests staying in IMR, they were also invited to visit SYNL, and had academic exchanges with Prof. Yiyi Li and Prof. Zhuangqi Hu.

The WMRIF were founded in June 2005, the aim of the WMRIF is to exchange information on current national policies and research management strategies, discuss future directions of materials research and promote international cooperation.