---United
Nations Symposium on Hydropower and Sustainable Development
was successfully concluded on 29th October in Beijing. The
symposium jointly organized by the United Nations Department
of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), the World Bank,
and the National Development and Reform Commission of People's
Republic of China. Some 500 participants, 111 of them international,
from 44 countries, participated. They included Government
representatives and experts, representatives of the private
sector, international organizations, and non-governmental
organizations, who participated actively in the meeting.
This symposium highlighted the subjects
such as hydropower & sustainable development, environmentally
sound technology for hydropower, hydropower management,
decision-making for hydropower development, the function
and effect of hydropower on economic and social development.
The Beijing Declaration on Hydropower and Sustainable Development
was adopted on the symposium. This symposium is the follow-up
of the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg,
South Africa in 2002, and it aimed to promote the development
of small hydropower, protect environment, decrease greenhouse
gas emission, and fulfill the sustainable development. It's
a significant contribution to sustainable hydropower development
in the world.
The Symposium concluded with the
adoption by consensus of the
Beijing
Declaration on Sustainable Development. Reflecting three
days of in-depth discussion, the Declaration states that
there is a need to develop hydropower that is socially,
economically, and environmentally sustainable.
Mr. Jianda ZHAO from our center
was invited to this symposium where he delivered a speech
on Private Participation in Small Hydropower Development
in China and Comparison with International Communities.
He introduced the present situation of Chinese private investors
for small hydropower and analyzed the differences between
international situation and Chinese situation in this regard.
He also pointed out several particular problems for Chinese
private company to invest in small hydropower. The speech
was welcomed by the participants, meanwhile, he exchanged
his ideas with officials and specialists from United Nations
and the World Bank, and he also visited some old friends
of HRC. (2004-10-31)
