Meeting of Mr. Ko?chiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO and Mr. Wang Shucheng, Minister for Water Resources, Government of People's Republic of China and agreement signing in ceremony for International Research and Training Centre on Sedimentation and Erosion (IRTCES):

During recent visit to P. R. China Mr. Ko?chiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO held an official meeting with Mr. Wang Shucheng, Minister for Water Resources.

Mr. Ko?chiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO recognized the importance of International Research and Training Centre on Sedimentation and Erosion (IRTCES) in carrying out the research, training and international networking of scientists and engineers in the field of sedimentation, erosion and related issues within water as a main focus. UNESCO appreciates the services of IRTCES and wanted to renew the two decade old agreement with more action oriented. Category II institutes under UNESCO really an asset for us; in the field of water in Asia in addition to China we have centers at Tehran, Kula Lumpur, and in Japan will be starting a centre soon and there is lot of interests from Member States to have regional and international centres, all these institutes are working in various field of water, and UNESCO would like to see all the institutes work together in a common platform for the betterment of the world.

Mr. Wang Shucheng, Minister for Water Resources, P. R. China pointed out that, China is now facing four serious water problems: flood, drought, water pollution and land degradation. During the long-term process of dealing with water, the water concept in China has been transformed from “man succeeds nature” in the past to “man coexists with nature”. Sediment problem is an important component for China 's water issue. China has accumulated rich experiences as well as lessons through long-term river training and harnessing practice. China would like to share these research results with other countries, and at the same time China would also like to learn successful experiences from other countries. China would like to cooperate with UNESCO to find out effective solutions for the water and sedimentation problems among member states.

The Agreement signing in ceremony:

The a greement between the government of the People' R epublic of C hina and the U nited N ations E ducational S cientific and C ultural O rganization concerning the I nternational R esearch and T raining C entre on E rosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES) was signed by Mr. Wang Shucheng, Minister of Water Resources, P.R. China and Mr. Ko?chiro Matsuura , Director General of UNESCO in Beijing on 30 November 2005.

The renewed agreement reiterated the objectives and responsibilities of IRTCES, defined the relationship between IRTCES and UNESCO, and confirmed the leading role of IRTCES in the field of international research on sedimentation. The renewed agreement will serve as an important international window for China 's water sector. It will also serve as a bridge and linkage for international sedimentation researchers to carry out academic communication, technical training and programme cooperation. In addition it expects to play important roles in promoting water resource and environment crisis faced by human beings, maintaining the social and economic sustainable development and building a harmonious society between human and nature.

The signing ceremony was hosted by Mr. Gao Bo, Director-General of Department of International Cooperation, Science & Technology, Ministry of Water Resources. Mr. Kuang Shangfu, Director of IRTCES delivered a short note of thanks.

The agreement signing ceremony was attended by Mr. Zhang Xuezhong, Ambassador and Permanent Delegation of the People's Republic of China to UNESCO , Mr. Gao Bo, Director-General of Department of International Cooperation, Science & Technology, Ministry of Water Resources, Mrs. Meng Zhimin, Deputy Director-General of Department of International Cooperation, Science & Technology, Ministry of Water Resources, Mr. Kuang Shangfu, Director of IRTCES and Mr. Hu Chunhong, Deputy Director and Secretary-General of IRTCES.

UNESCO delegates included Mr. Yasuyuki Aoshima , Director and Representative of UNESCO Office Beijing, Ms. Emiko Marmier-Murai, Chief of Section, Asia and Pacific Section in Sector for External Relations and Cooperation , Ms. Amita Vohra, Executive Officer, Office of Director General of UNESCO and Mr. R. Jayakumar, Progrmame Specialist of Science, Technology and Environment of UNESCO Office Beijing.