IWHR President Dr. Kuang Shangfu chaired the launching ceremony of IAHR Beijing Office, the second world secretariat of this international association on hydro-environment engineering and research hosted by IWHR, on April 20, 2015 in Beijing. Mr. GAO Bo, Director General of Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Water Resources, China and Prof. Roger Falconer, President of IAHR attended the ceremony and gave opening remarks. The event was attended by about 120 people including the executive members of IAHR, representatives of water-related institutions in China, members of IAHR Asia-Pacific Division, China Chapter and Student Chapters, as well as international friends from international organizations and Chinese embassies.
The IAHR Beijing Office Launching Ceremony
Dr. Kuang briefly reviewed China’s involvement in IAHR history, and the 2001 and 2013 IAHR World Congresses held in Beijing in particular. IWHR has been preparing for the Beijing Office for five years and is now ready to initiate the office, coinciding with the 80th birthday of IAHR itself. From now on, the Beijing Office and the Madrid Office will form a synergy to foster a stronger presence of IAHR in the Asia-Pacific region. He also reaffirmed his confidence in and commitment to a strong IAHR Beijing Office.
IAHR President Roger Falconer and Executive Director Dr. Christopher George, and Dr. Ramón Gutiérrez Serret representing CEDEX, the host of Madrid Office, expressed their confidence and best wishes for the Beijing Office in their remarks.
Mr. Gao Bo highly acknowledged the contribution of IAHR to world water development. The Ministry of Water Resources of China will support the Beijing Office for making an active contribution to international water exchanges and cooperation.
Dr. Kuang and Prof. Falconer signed the agreement between IWHR and IAHR, and unveiled the nameplate of IAHR Beijing Office together with Mr. Gao Bo and Dr. Christopher George.
Signing the agreement
IAHR Beijing Office Launched
The launching ceremony was followed by the High-Level Forum on Water Security. Six speakers, including Prof. Roger Falconer from Cardiff University, Prof. Wang Hao, fellow of Chinese Academy of Engineering, Dr. Ramón Gutiérrez Serret (on behalf of Dr. Ramiro Aurin), Prof. Larry Weber, IIHR, the USA, Prof. Joseph Lee, HKUST, and Prof. Arthur Mynett, UNESCO-IHE.
Six speakers at the high-level water security forum
