When the Chinese Lunar New Year, the year of tiger, is approaching, the International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES)/ISI Technical Secretariat invited officials of the UNESCO Office Beijing and the Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China (MWR) to have a Chinese New Year Celebration together on February 3, 2010. Mr. Abhimanyu Singh, Representative and Director of the UNESCO Office Beijing and Mr. HAO Zhao, the Deputy Division Director of the Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology of the MWR participated in the celebration.

Prof. HU Chunhong, Secretary-General and Deputy Director of IRTCES welcomed all participants on behalf of IRTCES, and expressed his sincerely gratitude to the UNESCO and the MWR for their help and support on IRTCES’ organizing the Silver Jubilee celebration in the past year. In his speech, Prof. Hu summarized the formed development pattern of the IRTCES through 25 years progress, and expressed that the IRTCES would do its best to make much more progresses in the coming New Year under the guidance and supports of UNESCO and MWR.

In Mr. Singh’s speech, he thanked MWR for its long-term supports on IRTCES, and praised IRTCES for its achievements in accomplishing research projects, technical trainings, ISI Technical Secretariat and other activities within the frame of UNESCO-IHP. Mr. Singh wished IRTCES would be energetic and active as a young tiger in the coming new year of tiger, and take its leading role in promoting inter-institutional linkages with other countries in the world. Mr. HAO Zhao, on behalf of MWR, hoped IRTCES keep on the role of a flagship as the first established UNESCO Category II Center in China, strengthen the international exchanging and cooperation and wished bigger accomplishments in the New Year.

Other participants included: Dr. R. Jayakumar, Mr. Sonam Yonten, Mr. LIU Ke, Ms. TENG Yue and Ms. DUAN Xiaoli of the UNESCO Office Beijing; Prof. GAO Zhanyi, and Prof. NING Duihu, Deputy Directors of IRTCES; Prof. WANG Zhao-Yin, Chairman of IRTCES Advisory Council; and advisors, division chiefs and staff of IRTCES.