On February 6, Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Multisectoral Regional Office for East Asia, and his colleagues visited the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research and International Research (IWHR) and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES) to discuss the deepening of the all-round and multi-level partnership. Peng Jing, President of IWHR and Director of IRTCES, met with the delegation. Vice President of IWHR, Ding Liuqian, and relevant officials from the Research Center on Flood & Drought Disaster Prevention and Reduction of the Ministry of Water Resources, IRTCES, International Office and the Department of Water Resources attended the meeting.

Director Shahbaz Khan and his delegation visited IWHR

Peng Jing reviewed the fruitful cooperation between IWHR and UNESCO, and expressed her gratitude to Prof Shahbaz Khan and the Regional Office for East Asia for their support and assistance to IWHR over the years. Peng Jing emphasized that water is one of the area’s most significantly affected by climate change, and it is of great significance to strengthen the cooperation and exchanges among countries in water-related scientific research, culture and education, and human resources cultivation, so as to join hands to address the global challenges of water and climate change. IWHR firmly supports UNESCO's global leadership, and is willing to make new contributions to the high-quality development of global water conservancy and the harmonious coexistence between human beings and nature by building a high-level exchange platform, giving full play to the role of IRTCES and other Category 2 Centers in China, and jointly planning multi-level educational and cultural activities. 

Prof Shahbaz Khan acknowledged the achievements of cooperation and exchange between the two sides in the past. He expressed UNESCO's appreciation for China's series of initiatives to comprehensively strengthen the construction of ecological civilization and its remarkable achievements, which are good inspirations and references for the international community from understanding to practice. He hoped that IWHR would continue to play its role as the "National team" in the field of water resources science and technology, lead and promote China's in-depth participation in international processes such as the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme and the Open Science Initiative, and expand its practical cooperation with UNESCO in all aspects of education, science and technology, and culture at multiple levels. 

During the meeting, the two sides fully exchanged views on joint hosting of conferences, publicity of water science, joint application for projects and other matters. After the meeting, the delegation also visited IRTCES for discussion.

Director Xia Zehan and his delegation visited IRTCES.