(July 29th, 2009, Beijing)
（http://www.iwhr.com/special subject）

With the flowers in bloom and trees in luxuriance, summer is very much in the air of beijing. It is a time for celebrating the Silver Jubilee of the founding of International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES)--A Symposium on Integrated River Basin Management under Global Climate Change on July 29, 2009 in Beijing. Mr Chen Lei, Minister of Ministry of Water Resources and Secretary of Ministry Party Group, and Professor Walter R. Erdelen, Assistant Director General UNESCO made an important speech.

Chen Lei, Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources, extended his congratulations on the 25th anniversary of IRTCES, and fully affirmed the great achievements made by IRTCES and its outstanding contribution to the international cooperation in the past 25 years. In his view, IRTCES, under the concern and support of the UNESCO as well as the direct leadership of the Ministry of Water Resources, has strived for progress and devoted in pioneering innovation. Thus, great achievements have been made in all aspects of work through exploration in practice and development in exploration. Activities such as extensive domestic and international academic exchange, technical training, research consultation as well as building of information platform, have promoted cooperation in science and technology and sharing in knowledge in the erosion and sedimentation field; expanded the world’s advanced experience and technology in river regulation, sediment management, ecological construction as well as flood control and disaser mitigation, and advanced the technical progress and solution of problems of erosion and sedimentation. IRTCES has gradually developed into a world-renowned institution which has strong professional strength, fine cooperative reputation and great world influence, establishing its leading role in the erosion and sedimentation field, providing important support for the development of international erosion and sedimentation cause, and playing a vital role in advancing the world erosion and sedimentation research and technical progress. The achievements made by IRTCES have been widely recognized by the water conservancy industry, high praised by the UNESCO and known as a good example of cooperation between Chinese government and the UNESCO in China.

Minister Chen Lei stressed that IRTCES, as an important international institute and world leader in the erosion and sedimentation field, should aim at the leading edge of science and technology in the erosion and sedimentation field from a new historical point, have its feet firmly planted in the country yet keep the whole world in view by continuous innovation and improvement of service level, and promote the development of world sedimentation cause, sustainable utilization of natural resources and improvement of the ecological environment of human beings. He expressed his hope that, under the new historical conditions, IRTCES should firstly exert the role as a bridge; secondly actively expand the scope of international research and consultation; thirdly vigorously carry out the technical trainings; fourthly strive to promote the progress of information technology in the erosion and sedimentation field, and fifthly continue to strengthen the capacity construction of IRTCES.

At the meeting, on behalf of UNESCO, Mr W.R.Erdelen conveyed his congratulations to the 25th Anniversary of IRTCES and affirmed the great contributions that the IRTCES, as a first water related category II center under the auspices of UNESCO, has made on research and training of erosion and sedimentation science within the frame of UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP) in recent 25 years, which is highly regarded by the researchers and policy-makers worldwide. Meanwhille, he points out that UNESCO is very honored to have such an international and regional center on settling problems of water and sustainable development.

Minister Chen Lei, Mr Walter R. Erdelen, Assistant Director General UNESCO and Mr Wang Shucheng, vice-chairman of Financial and Economic Committee of the National People's Congress awarded the “Qian Ning Prize for Erosion and Sedimentation” to the winners.

At the meeting, Mr Kuang Shangfu, Director of IRTCES briefed achievements and the experience of the IRTCES on exploration and development in 5 aspects, and later envisaged its bright future.

Mr A.Singh, representative of the UNESCO Office Beijing, and Mr. Fang Maotian, Secretary General of Chinese National Committee for the UNESCO, Prof. Manfred Spreafico, President of the International Commission fro the Hydrology of the Rhine Basin, and Chairman off the UNESCO-IHP-ISI Steering Committee and Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalam Ahmed, Director General of the UNESCO Chair in Water Resources, and Member of IRTCES Advisory Council delivered their congratulated speeches successively.

Mr Yang Zhenhuai, the former Minister of PRC Ministry of Water Resources (MWR), Mr E Jingping, Vice Minister of Ministry of Water Resources and Deputy Secretary of Ministry Party Group attended the meeting. Prof. Lin Bingnan, Academia of Chinese Academy of Science, Honorary Chairman of IRTCES Advisory Council. Mr Gao Bo, Director-General of Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology of MWR chaired the meeting.

The Seminar on Integrated River Basin Management under Global Climate Change was convened in the afternoon. Mr Walter R. Erdelen, Assistant Director General UNESCO, Academician Liu Changming, Mr M. Sprafico, Chairman of UNESCO-IHP-ISI (International Sediment Initiative) Steering Committee and Professor Wang Zhaoyin gave sagacious and wonderful academic lectures centering on the related issues.

Leaders from related ministries of the State Council, departments and river basin institutions of the Ministry of Water Resources, water conservancy and hydropower sectors, academies and institutes and institutions of higher learning, academicians, well-known experts, guests from international organizations, related embassies in China and many other countries, and representatives of staff members and graduate students from China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) and the IRTCES, a total of 350 people took part in the meeting.

Mr Chen Lei,  Minister of MWR 



Dr.W.R. Erdelen, Assistant Director General UNESCO 



Mr Wang Shucheng, Vice-Chairman of Financial and Economic Committee of the National People's Congress 



Mr Yang Zhenhuai, The Former Minister of MWR



Prof. Lin Bingnan, Academician of Chinese Academy of Science, Honorary Chairman of IRTCES Advisory Council.



Mr. Fang Maotian, Secretary General of Chinese National Committee for the UNESCO



Dr. A.Singh, Representative of the UNESCO Office Beijing 



Manfred Spreafico, President of the International Commission fro the Hydrology of the Rhine Basin, and Chairman off the UNESCO-IHP-ISI Steering Committee 



Prof. Dr. Abdalla Abdelsalam Ahmed, Director General of the UNESCO Chair in Water Resources, and Member of IRTCES Advisory Council 



Mr Gao Bo, Director-General of Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology of MWR



Dr. Kuang Shangfu, Director of IRTCES 



Winners of “Qian Ning Prize for Erosion and Sedimentation”