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.

    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.

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