On the morning of September 23rd, Academic
activities for the 40th Anniversary of International Research and Training
Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (hereinafter referred to as IRTCES) were
held in Beijing. IRTCES was the first Category II Center established by UNESCO
in the world. The theme of the meeting was “Work together to build a clean and
beautiful world”. Mr. Li Liangsheng, Vice Minister of Water Resources of P.R.
China, and Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China,
attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Ms. Lidia Brito,
Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences of UNESCO, delivered a speech
through video. Ms. Peng Jing, Director-General of IRTCES and President of the
China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), presided
over the meeting and summarized.
Mr. Li Liangsheng pointed out in his
speech that after 40 years of development, the IRTCES has become a
communication and cooperation platform with strong professional strength and
great influence in the international sediment research field, and has achieved
a leading position, making important contributions to the development and
progress of world sediment science. As a world leader in the field of erosion
and sedimentation, IRTCES is expected to further fulfill its leading role in
this field and as a UNESCO category II center in accordance with the
requirements of UNESCO and the Chinese Government, and to continue to support
the realization of the objectives of the strategic plan of the ninth phase of
the IHP of UNESCO. It will make new and greater contributions to solving global
water security problems and building a global community for a shared future!
Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee expressed his
congratulations to IRTCES on its 40th anniversary, emphasizing that this
milestone event represents decades of global cooperation to address the most
serious environmental challenges. As a leader in the field of erosion and
sedimentation, IRTCES has been at the forefront of sediment management and has
become a model for global international cooperation, providing experts and
contributions to research and capacity building in the field of erosion and
sedimentation management worldwide. It looks forward to continuing to
capitalize on existing knowledge and partnerships to contribute to a more
secure and sustainable future.
Ms. Lidia Brito pointed out that IRTCES
was the first UNESCO Category II Center to be established in 1984 and has
provided a role model for the 29 water-related Category II Centers that have
been established subsequently in other parts of the world. It plays an
important role in promoting the sustainable management of soil and sediment
resources locally, regionally and globally, among other aspects. She thanked
the Chinese Government for its long-term and fruitful cooperation with UNESCO
and looed forward to further deepening cooperation with Chinese scientist.
Representatives from the UNESCO Regional
Office for East Asia, the Chinese National Commission for UNESCO, the International
Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR), the
International Sediment Initiative, other UNESCO Category II water-related
Centers, and UNESCO Chairs made exchanges. More than 150 participants from more
than 20 countries and regions attended the meeting.
Ms. Peng Jing,
Director-General of IRTCES and President of the China Institute of Water
Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR), presided over the meeting and
summarized
Mr. Siddharth
Chatterjee, United Nations Resident Coordinator in China, attended the opening
ceremony and delivered speeches
Ms. Lidia
Brito, Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences of UNESCO,
delivered a
speech through video
