From November 13 to 16, 2024, the 2024 Asian Nuclear Physics Association (ANPhA) Board Meeting and Symposium were successfully held at the Huizhou Branch of the Institute of Modern Physics (IMP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). 

The event was hosted by the Southern Center for Nuclear-Science Theory and co-organized by ANPhA, the China Center of Advanced Science and Technology, the Asia Pacific Center for Theoretical Physics, and the Association of Asia Pacific Physical Societies. 52 experts and scholars from across the Asia-Pacific region participated.

The ANPhA Board Meeting took place on November 14, with 18 board members in attendance. This was followed by the ANPhA Symposium, which featured presentations by leading experts and scholars from China, Japan, South Korea, and other countries. The presentations focused on the development of next-generation large-scale scientific facilities in the Asia-Pacific region and frontier research in nuclear physics. 

The symposium began with an opening ceremony chaired by ANPhA President and Chair of the Academic Committee of the Korean Physical Society, Byungsik Hong. Prof. XU Furong of Peking University, Executive Director of the China-U.S. Theory Institute for Physics with Exotic Nuclei, delivered the welcome address. XU noted that ANPhA, since its establishment in 2009, has been committed to promoting collaboration and communication within the Asia-Pacific nuclear physics community. He emphasized that this conference served as a valuable platform for exploring frontier topics, fostering mutual inspiration, and further strengthening regional ties and collaboration.

Shoji Nagamiya, an Emeritus Professor at KEK and Guest Chief Scientist at RIKEN, reflected on the founding and early development of ANPhA. He stressed the importance of sustained communication and cooperation in advancing nuclear physics research in the Asia-Pacific region. CAS academician ZHAN Wenlong delivered an in-depth presentation on the progress and future plans for the High-Intensity Heavy Ion Accelerator Facility (HIAF) and the China Initiative Accelerator Driven System (CiADS).

In the closing remarks, ANPhA Vice President and Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science, Anthony Thomas, expressed his sincere gratitude to the participants and organizers. He emphasized the need for enhanced collaboration and closer engagement to drive nuclear physics research and foster innovation across the Asia-Pacific region.

During the conference, participants also toured HIAF and the Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory.

As next-generation large-scale scientific facilities in the Asia-Pacific region come into operation, nuclear physics research faces unprecedented opportunities and challenges. The successful conclusion of this meeting not only demonstrated China's latest achievements in nuclear science and large-scale facility development, but also provided fresh impetus for enhancing collaboration and fostering innovation within the Asia-Pacific nuclear physics community.

Figure 1. Group photo of the ANPhA Board Meeting.

Figure 2. Group photo of the ANPhA Symposium.

Figure 3. ANPhA President Byungsik Hong chairing the opening ceremony.

Figure 4. Professor XU Furong delivering the welcome address.

Figure 5. Professor Shoji Nagamiya presenting the development history of ANPhA.

Figure 6. Academician ZHAN Wenlong introducing the large-scale scientific facilities in Huizhou.

Figure 7. Participants engaging in in-depth discussions.

Figure 8. Professor Anthony Thomas delivering the closing remarks.

Figure 9. Participants visiting HIAF.