Yellow River Special Session of the 5th World Water Forum held successfully

The YRCC delegation attending the Yellow River Special Session

The scene of the meeting

On March 18th, the Yellow River Special Session EU-China Dialogue on Integrated River Basin Management Case Studies was successfully held in Istanbul, Turkey during the Fifth World Water Forum. The meeting was co-organized by YRCC, INBO and EU-China River Basin Management Programme, with the theme of Integrated River Basin Management Benchmarking and Climate Change Adaptation Strategies.

Mr. Xu Cheng, Vice-Directorr of YRCC, gave an opening speech on the meeting. He mentioned that the dialogue will focus on the topics of which China and EU are concerned, such as the integrated river basin water resources management, river basin ecological environment and response to the climate change, etc., to develop high level discussion and deep communication. It will promote the exchange and in pursuit of the progress on integrated river basin management among the relative government officials, water conservancy specialists and river basin managers, and push forward the improvement of the integrated river basin planning policy in China. In addition, it also has a great significance to find solutions for the urgent issues being confronted by the global, such as population, resources and environment. YRCC would like to share the experiences and knowledge of Yellow River management with the world colleagues.

YRCC delegates made keynote reports respectively on Practice on Keeping the Healthy Life of Yellow River , Integrated Water and Sediment Management of Yellow River , Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies in Yellow River Basin , etc. Besides, president of the Rhone Mediterranean and Corsica Water Agency, and presidents from other European river basin organizations also exchanged the experiences on integrated river basin management in Europe.

As a component of EU-China dialogue, the delegate from CWRC also joined the meeting. On the meeting, delegates made enthusiastic discussion, and brought many important opinions and suggestions on integrated river basin management, adaptation of climate change and enforcement of international cooperation.

Mr. Wouter Arriens, water resources specialist of ADB, suggested in his summary report to introduce the typical experience and success case study of the Yellow River management to other areas in the world, to forward the implementation of integrated river basin management. He also presented the reason why ADB and Asian Pacific Water Forum set the Knowledge Hub of Center for Hydroinformatics in River Basin in the Yellow River basin.

The experts attended the Yellow River Special Session appraised the success of the meeting as well as the outputs achieved. They also highly commented on the achievements of Yellow River management. Mr. Andras Nagy, Deputy Assistance Director-General of UNCESCO, Mr. Laszlo Kothay, Vice State Secretary for Water in Hungary, Mr. Jean Francois Donzier, Permanent Secretary of the International Network of Basin Organizations(INBO) and other disguised guests and experts, affirmed the accomplishments on exploration and practice of YRCC regarding management of Yellow River basin, and suggested to enhance the cooperation between China and EU on river basin management, to hold wider dialogues and exchange to share the experience of integrated river basin management, and discuss together how to take more efficient regional action to cope with new challenges raised by global water resources.

Focusing on the theme Bridging Divides for Water of the 5th WWF, Yellow River Special Session promoted the dissemination of Yellow River management achievements and relative progress on technology, enhanced the understanding and attention of world water resources specialists and managers about the Yellow River basin, and also established a firm foundation for international cooperation relationship between China and European countries on integrated river basin management and adaptation of climate change.

Approximately one hundred delegates from more than twenty countries such as Holland, Turkey, Belgium, Germany, Rumania, Spain, Italy, Hungary, etc, attended the meeting, they are from international organizations such as UNESCO, World Bank, ADB, World Water Partnership, EU, etc, basin organizations such as YRCC, MWR, CWRC, International Commission for Protection of the Rhine, International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River, International Commission for Protection of Meuse River, Rhone Mediterranean and Corsica Water Agency, International Organization for the Development of the Senegal River, etc.

( Interpreted by Dong Wu)

Chairmen from European River Basin Organizations

Vice Dirctor Mr. Xu Cheng is giving a speech at the opening ceremony.

UNESCO Deputy Assistance Director-General Mr. Andras Nagy is giving a speech.

Vice Dirctor Mr. Xu Cheng and Vice State Secretary for Water in Hungary Mr. Laszlo Kothay are presiding the meeting together.

YRCC Delegates are presenting relevant reports on recent progress of research and training of the Yellow River.

Water Resources Specialist Mr. Wouter Arriens of Asia Development Bank is giving speech.

Source:YRCC