Abstract:Over a decade, the Chinese government has attached great importance to the conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources for food and agriculture (PGRFA). According to 20 priority fields described in the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (GPA), the Chinese government has formulated and perfected a series of regulations and laws and has strengthened the management for plant genetic resources. Through training and popularization of scientific knowledge related to genetic resources, the public awareness has been promoted. Through the international cooperation and establishment of collaborative networks, it has promoted the exchanges of information, prefessionals and materials. Through the implementation of various national programmes and projects, the conservation system for plant genetic resources has been established and improved gradually to achieve the objectives of safe conservation and sustainable use of plant genetic resources, which has played a great role in plant breeding and food security in both China and the world.(1) A systematic survey and cataloguing for main grain crops and wild species of crops has been undertaken. Totally 116 in situ conservation sites, including wild rice, wild soybean, wild relatives of wheat and wild vegetables etc. has been established. In addition, other 30 in situ conservation sites have been put in plan for construction. Rapid extinction of wild plant genetic resources has been controlled effectively.(2) China has established a long-term national genebank, one national duplication genebank, ten medium-term national gene banks, 29 medium-term provincial genebanks and 32 national gemplasm nurseries (including two in vitro seedling banks). In addition, other seven germplasm nurseries are in building. Thus, a sound system for conservation of national plant genetic resources has been basically formed. Totally 397067accessions of plant genetic resources has been preserved in the long-term genebank and the germplasm nurseries.(3) A total of 286604 accessions of plant genetic resources were multiplied and regenerated in the past ten years, which has enriched the medium-term genebanks and significantly increased the distribution ability of plant genetic resources to breeders and researchers. Only in 2001-2007, 132000 accessions of germplasm resources were provided to 2650 institutions in China.(4) With the investment of 180 million RMB from the State, the National Key Facility of Crop Gene Resources And Genetic Improvement was established in 2003, which provides a excellent platform for genotyping and gene discovery of plant genetic resources.(5) Through in-depth characterization and evaluation of plant genetic resources, a great number of elite germplasm have been screened out and used in the development of new plant varieties widely used in production, leading to the effective increase of the utilization efficiency of plant genetic resources. Meanwhile, through intercropping and rotation between (6) Although China has gained remarkable achievements in conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources, there still are a number of challenges. China needs to strengthen the cooperation with other countries and international organizations, to acquire plant genetic resources and relevant technologies from abroad, to continue the survey, exploration and collecting of plant genetic resources, especially for wild plant genetic resources and landraces which are grown in remote areas of the country, to further establish and perfect conservation systems for plant genetic resources. Therefore, we should systemetically characterize and evaluate plant genetic resources conserved and provide them for the use. The sharing of genetic resources and benefits should be further improved to promote the utilization efficiency of genetic resources in China.By strengthening the management for plant genetic resources, the objectives of sharing the plant genetic resources in the country and expanding the exchanges with foreign countries have been achieved, greatly contributing to food security in both China and the world, rapid development of national economy, and increase of the farmers’ income.different kinds of crops and mix-cropping of different varieties, the diversity of varieties has been conserved and the damages caused by diseases, pests and weeds have been reduced.