On August 14, 2023, under the guidance of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council and the Ministry of Water Resources, the 27th Cross-Strait Symposium on Water Conservancy Science and Technology Exchange (hereinafter referred to as the "Cross-Strait Symposium") opened in Xining, Qinghai Province. Hosted by the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) and National Taiwan University, co-organized by the Sino-American Water Resources Association, and undertaken by Qinghai University, Qinghai Provincial Hydraulic Engineering Society, Qinghai Provincial Hydropower Engineering Society, and the Cross-Strait Water Conservancy Science and Technology Exchange Working Committee of the Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society, this symposium brought together over 200 participants. Prof. Zhong Zhiyu, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Water Resources; Prof. Peng Jing, President, Secretary of the Party Committee of IWHR and Director-General of the IRTCES; Prof. Zhang Cangrong, Professor of National Taiwan University; and Prof Li Lirong, Secretary of the Party Committee of Qinghai University, attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Prof. Ding Liuqian, Vice President of IWHR, presided over the keynote report session of the opening ceremony. The five-day symposium gathered representatives from water conservancy authorities, river basin institutions, local water resources departments, research institutions, academic societies, universities, and enterprises from both sides of the Taiwan Strait and the Chinese American Water Resources Associationn.

Opening Ceremony

Prof. Zhong Zhiyu stated, "When the country is prosperous and the nation thrives, compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will enjoy a better life." The Cross-Strait Symposium on Water Conservancy Science and Technology Exchange has gone through nearly 30 years, with its scale of exchange expanding, influence growing, and young talents emerging continuously. It has become a precious and important brand event in the water conservancy circles on both sides of the Strait. The water conservancy construction and technological development in the Chinese mainland and Taiwan region each have their own characteristics. It is necessary to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in water conservancy science and technology, promote mutual learning, enhance the technological level and innovation capability on both sides, jointly respond to new challenges in water governance in the new era, and jointly promote high-quality development of water conservancy.

Prof. Peng Jing noted that at different stages of development, the Cross-Strait Symposium has always closely aligned with the hotspots and focal points of water conservancy development on both sides of the Strait, tracked new concepts, new technologies, and new methods, and has been widely recognized by water conservancy science and technology colleagues on both sides. Looking to the future, the symposium should continue to focus on hot issues in water conservancy development, constantly optimize topic settings, enrich research contents, encourage extensive participation of water conservancy experts and young people from both sides, promote the inheritance, development and innovation of water conservancy science and technology across the Strait, and gather wisdom from all parties to provide stronger support for high-quality water conservancy development in the new stage.

Prof. Zhang Cangrong said that Taiwan region has experienced alternating droughts and floods this year, going through high-temperature weather and rainstorms and floods caused by typhoons. Under the background of climate change, both sides of the Strait are facing common water challenges, and he hopes that academic exchanges between the two sides will be further strengthened.

Prof. Li Lirong stated that water conservancy is related to the national economy and people's livelihood, is a major force for benefiting the people's wellbeing, and is a focus of common concern for people on both sides of the Strait. She expects that this seminar will provide new ideas and directions for the innovative development of water conservancy science and technology across the Strait.

Keynote speetch

This symposium, focusing on the water-related issues commonly faced by both sides of the Taiwan Strait under the current climate change situation, included sessions such as keynote reports, parallel session exchanges, and a special session for the selection of outstanding youth papers. Prof. Zhao Xinquan, Director of the State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Mr. Chen Shenxian, Chairman of Chung Hsing Engineering Consultants Group, and Prof. Lian Yanqing, Former President of the Sino-American Water Resources Association and Professor at the University of Illinois, delivered keynote reports respectively, with the titles "Scientific Issues and Practices in Synergistically Enhancing the Multifunctionality of Alpine Grasslands", "Water Resources Strategies in Taiwan Region Under Climate Change" and "Development and Application of Coupled Hydrological and Hydrodynamic Simulation Models". The keynote reports were hosted by Prof. Ding Liuqian, Vice President of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research.

The parallel session exchanges covered five themes: "Water Resources Management and Agricultural Water Conservancy", "Water Engineering Safety and Disaster Prevention and Mitigation", "Soil and Water Conservation and River Governance", "Water Environment and Water Ecology", and "Water Conservancy Information Technology and Others". Experts from both sides of the Taiwan Strait shared cutting-edge theories, strategies, methods, and practices in their respective fields. The special session for the selection of outstanding youth papers gathered 20 young scholars from both sides, who delivered reports and exchanged ideas on topics such as flood control technologies and practices across the Strait, river and reservoir governance, and smart water conservancy-related technologies and applications.

Introduction to the Work of the Mainland Secretariat 

During the conference, a joint meeting of the Organizing Committee and the Academic Committee was held. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Peng Jing, President of IWHR and Director-General of the IRTCES. Prof. Ding Liuqian, Vice President of IWHR, together with nearly 60 committee members from river basin institutions, local water resources departments, research institutions, universities, academic societies and enterprises, attended the meeting and conducted discussions. Prof. Zhang Jianli, Deputy Director of the IRTCES, introduced the work of the Mainland Secretariat for this symposium.

Presentation of the Strait Exchange Symposium Outstanding Contribution Awards

At the closing ceremony, Prof. Ding Liuqian, Vice President of the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Prof. Zhang Cangrong from National Taiwan University, and Prof. Ma Jun, Vice President of Qinghai University, presented awards to the winners of the first, second, and third prizes for outstanding youth papers, respectively. Ding Liuqian and Zhang Cangrong presented the "Outstanding Contribution Awards" to recipients from both sides of the Strait. In their closing speeches, Ding Liuqian and Zhang Cangrong summarized the current symposium and looked ahead to future development. Finally, Dalian University of Technology delivered a presentation on hosting the 28th Cross-Strait Symposium on Water Conservancy Science and Technology Exchange. The closing ceremony was hosted by Zhang Jianli, Deputy Director of the IRTCES.