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Good Morning, Distinguished guests, ladies and
gentlemen.
Today, the MOU between International Research and
Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation (IRTCES), China and
Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Malaysia will be signed here soon.
First, on behalf of IRTCES, please allow me to extend our warm
welcome to Malaysian friends coming here far away for the signing
ceremony. I would like also to extend our
sincere gratitude to the representatives from Ministry of
Water Resources, P. R. China and UNESCO.
IRTCES was set up by the Government of
China and UNESCO on July 21 1984 in Beijing. The Ministry of Water
Resources is the governmental executive agency, and it is the first
established category II water-related center under auspices of
UNESCO. The main goals are to promote the scientific research,
information communication and technical cooperation in the area of
erosion and sedimentation, to provide technical advisory services on
rational utilization of water and soil, soil erosion control and
eco-environment protection worldwide. In 2005, the government of
China and UNESCO renewed the agreement on IRTCES.
Under the leadership of Ministry of Water
Resources, P. R. China and UNESCO and with the support worldwide,
IRTCES has conducted many international, bilateral and multilateral
collaborative researches and trainings since its establishment for
24 years. We have conducted over 100 research and consulting
programs, which cover areas of river sedimentation, fluvial process,
reservoir sedimentation, engineering sediment, soil erosion, debris
flow and water environment. We have organized over 40 training
courses, sponsored and co-sponsored over 90 symposia and workshops
and organized over 130 technical tours. IRTCES serves as the
Technical Secretariat of UNESCO International Sediment Initiative (ISI),
Secretariat of World Association for Sedimentation and Erosion
Research (WASER), and the permanent Secretariat of the International
Symposia on River Sedimentation etc. It is also responsible for the
publication of the International Journal of Sediment Research and
Gazette of Chinese River Sediment. . After over 20 years’
development, IRTCES has won reputation worldwide and become one of
the important partners of UNESCO in China.
IRTCES has paid attention to international
communication and cooperation. We have close relationship and
collaboration with many international associations such as IAHR and
IAHS. Since 1984, IRTCES has signed seven co-operation agreements
with former Yugoslavia, Pakistan, Sudan, Iran, USA, India and the
International Coordinating Committee on Reservoir Sedimentation.
Today, we are very glad to welcome
colleagues from UiTM, Malaysia's premier institution of higher
learning. The MOU signing will open a new page for strengthening our
cooperation, which would promote the scientific study, information
communication and technical cooperation among experts of both sides
in areas of rational utilization of water and soil, soil erosion
control and eco- environment protection and contribute to the
sustainable development of the international community.
Finally, wish everyone good health and a
happy life! Wish our Malaysian friends a pleasant stay in Beijing!
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