Director of Polytech Nice Sophia Prof. Philippe Gourbesville visited IWHR on October 20, 2015, met with IWHR President Dr. Kuang Shangfu for promoting bilateral cooperation, and lectured at IWHR's Global Vision Forum on the challenges and opportunities of hydroinformatics and information system.

Dr. Kuang welcomed the director, who also visited in 2014. He thanked Mr. Gourbesville, an honorary professor of IWHR, for the efforts he has made for IWHR's research and graduate student education, and said both sides should enhance cooperation, recently in particular in EU Horizon 2020 program and the joint postgraduate program in hydroinformatics, and promote the short-term exchange mechanism for young scholars in order to strength capacity building and share experience.

IWHR president also congratulated the visiting director on his being appointed as the senior advisor of the to-be-established Asia Water Council, which has attracted the attention of the institute. Dr. Kuang said IWHR has talented researchers and rich experience in integrated water resources management, water-related disaster prevention, flood risk and rescue information, and personnel training, and is willing to actively participate in international cooperation and exchange so as to promote advanced water technologies and share knowledge and good practice.

Prof. Gourbesville thank IWHR for its hospitality. He introduced in detail the EU Horizon 2020 program and the progress of the research jointly applied for with IWHR. He said he is confident of improving regional integrated water resources management and disaster preparedness through demonstration of pilot project and by integrating technical tools and practical cases. The director also expressed his view on cooperation of personnel exchange, visits of scholars and education with diploma, and said he looks forward to young scholars and graduate students from IWHR to exchange in Nice, France. Mr. Gourbesville also briefed on the Asia Water Council, and said he expected active engagement of Chinese research institutes and companies.

After the meeting, Prof. Gourbesville gave a lecture at IWHR's Global Vision Forum, to which world renowned scholars are invited to give speech, on the challenges and opportunities facing hydroinformatics and information system.