---Entrusted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and organized by HRC, 2017 Seminar on Water Resources Management & Small Hydropower Development for Countries along the Belt and Road was held successfully in Hangzhou from 16 June to 13 July. 44 officials from 12 countries along the Belt and Road, including Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Dominica, D.P.R. Korea, Egypt, Iran, Laos, Mongolia, Myanmar and Nepal came to attend the seminar. Based on the concerted efforts of all lecturers, participants and HRC training team, this seminar has achieved fruitful results. This is the 90th foreign-aid training program that HRC implemented since its establishment.
During the seminar, officials enjoyed the specific lectures covering the advanced technology and proven experience in the field of water resources and small hydropower. Site visits were arranged to Three Gorges Project, Tiexinqiao Water Experiment Center, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, typical hydropower stations and equipment manufacturers, which enabled officials to have a comprehensive understanding about the updated technology and equipment manufacturing capability of water resources management and small hydropower development in China, and also laid a solid foundation for future cooperation. Furthermore, the representative from each country delivered country report respectively on the subject of water resources management and small hydropower development. Based on full communication and exchange of technical experience in the filed of water resources and small hydropower, an in-depth discussion on how to carry out effective cooperation in the field of water resources and small hydropower was conducted between officials and HRC specialists.
Mr. Cai Runyaun, Division Chief of the Training Center of Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Fan Aihua, Division Chief of Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, Ms. Shi Xiaomei, Project Officer of the Training Center of Ministry of Commerce, Mr. Xu Jincai, Director General of HRC, Mr. Lin Ning, Division Chief of Foreign Affairs and Training of HRC, Ms. Shi Jin, Vice Division Chief of Foreign Affairs and Training of HRC presented at the grand closing ceremony. Mr. Cai and Mr. Xu delivered the speech respectively and awarded certificates from the Ministry of Commerce, together with Mr. Fan to all the participants.
Mr. Cai mentioned that there are numerous rivers and lakes in China with abundant water resources and small hydropower potential, ranking the 1st in the world. In recent years, Chinese government has not only accumulated plenty of experience, but also made a big progress after dedicated to water conservancy construction. The seminar provides a platform where China and other developing countries can enhance communication and promote water resources management and small hydropower development. He addressed: "…I sincerely hope this seminar could be a start of our mutual cooperation, through study and exchanges, to establish the bridge of friendship among us, thus laying a solid foundation for our mutual cooperation."
Mr. Xu made conclusion remarks on the activities and achievements of the seminar, and on behalf of HRC, he expressed heartfelt thanks to the Ministry of Commerce for his great supports, and to the participants for their earnest attitudes and friendly cooperation during the seminar. He mentioned: "… I am very pleased to learn that you are satisfied with this productive seminar and you feel that the time, about 28 days you spent here, is pleasant…It is expected that you will play a more active role in the development of water resources and small hydropower in your own countries, and you are warmly welcome to re-visit HRC, "the Family of SHP in the World" frequently in the future. We hope that more and more win-win cooperation would be achieved for common development."
On behalf of all the participants, Ms. Orujova Gunay, Chief Engineer of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, Azerbaijan delivered a speech at the closing ceremony, expressing her sincere gratitude to the Chinese government and showing her appreciation respectively to the Ministry of Commerce of China for sponsoring such a productive seminar and to HRC training team for the hard work and effective management. The other participants also expressed their willingness to take this seminar as a good opportunity to enhance the cooperation on water resources and small hydropower between China and their respective countries, thus ultimately bringing safe water and clean energy to the world.
The seminar was warmly welcome and highly evaluated by the participating countries, and its successful fulfillment laid a solid foundation for HRC to actively implement the guiding spirit of the Belt and Road Initiative, and to carry out in-depth and friendly cooperation with the countries along the Belt and Road in the filed of water resources and small hydropower. (2017-07-24)
