Mr. Jia Jinsheng, Vice President of China Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) was overwhelmingly voted the President of International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) on the 77th Annual Meeting of ICOLD held in Brasilia, Brazil on May 23, 2009. He is the first Chinese President in the history of ICOLD and his tenure of office is from the Year of 2009 to 2012.  
    Vice Minister of China Ministry of Water Resources Jiao Yong and Chinese Councilor in Brazil Zhu Qingqiao expounded the achievements and tasks on dam construction in China and expressed the hope by the Chinese Government to make greater contributions to the international dam arena through ICOLD presidency at the reception banquet prior to the election.

Vice Minister Jiao Yong Making a Speech

    Mr. Polimon, chairman of Spanish National Committee on Large Dams, on behalf of the committee introduced the experience of Mr. Jia Jinsheng taking part in ICOLD meetings and evaluated the great contributions and achievements Mr. Jia Jinsheng has made in the research and construction of dams.

Mr. Polimon, Chairman of Spanish National Committee on Large Dams introducing Mr. Jia Jinsheng

    Mr. Jia Jinsheng improvised a speech starting with his gratitude to committees of all countries who have supported him greatly after being elected the president of ICOLD and expressed his honor to be voted ICOLD President.

Mr. Jia Jinsheng Improvising a Speech after being Elected ICOLD President

    Mr. Jia Jinsheng emphasized that ICOLD was set up for water and the existence and development of mankind. He reiterated the utmost significance of water to the development of human society and environmental protection. He also expressed his hope to make ICOLD warmer, more important and more attracting through the joint efforts with the officials of the commission in the three years to come, and to make new contributions to the development and progress of the society by all the efforts of senior experts, engineers including young ones in the international dam engineering.

ICOLD Honorary Chairman Mr. Hoeg Expressing Congratulations to Mr. Jia Jinsheng

    Representatives of committees from various countries and colleagues in the international dam arena all extended congratulations to Mr. Jia Jinsheng afterwards.