On December 12, 2017, International Hydropower Association (IHA) CEO Richard Taylor and his two colleagues visited IWHR, greeted by IWHR President Kuang Shangfu and talked on the previous and next World Hydropower Congress to be held in Paris in 2019.

Dr. Kuang warmly welcomed the CEO on his third visit of this year, and thanked him for IHA’s long-time support to IWHR. He said the successful 6th World Hydropower Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia this year is a great boost to the sustainable hydropower development in the African continent, laying out a guideline for its hydropower development and operation in the coming decade.

Dr. Kuang also expressed his gratitude to IHA for granting him the 2017 Mosonyi Award for Excellence in Hydropower, and said this award is a recognition from the international community for the excellent contributions by IWHR and the Chinese hydropower sector as a whole.

Dr. Kuang reaffirmed that, through the IHA China Office hosted at the institute, IWHR will fully support the 7th World Hydropower Congress in 2019. He also invited Mr. Taylor and his colleagues to visit IWHR again next year.

Mr. Taylor appreciated IWHR’s great hospitality. He briefed the meeting on IHA’s achievement this year, and thanked IWHR for its support and contributions. The CEO also introduced the focal areas of the association in the future, including greenhouse gas emission, climate change resilience, hydro-projects upgrade, joint regulation of hydropower and other renewable energies, international cooperation, education and training. He said he looked forward to the profound cooperation with IWHR and the IWHR-based International Research and Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation, in order to share the advanced Chinese technologies and experience.

Approaches and contents of future cooperation were also discussed between the two sides.