In 2025, the International Joint Research Centre for Water Science & Engineering (JRC), hosted by Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), successfully passed the comprehensive evaluation and re-assessment conducted by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology.

To sustain and build on this exciting momentum, the 4^th Working Meeting of the JRC was held in Nanjing on October 25. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology of the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources, NHRI, and international partners, including the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands, Deltares, IHE Delft, Black Sea - Danube Coastal Association for Research & Development, Flanders Hydraulic Research, Stockholm Environment Institute, PIANC, and ASEAN Centre for Energy.

The meeting went through the development history of JRC, deliberated on the JRC Charter, and carried out extensive discussion on the next-step plans for the JRC. Looking ahead, the JRC will continue to combine the strengths of all partners to jointly disseminate knowledge, experiences, and good practices, carry out joint research projects, establish international networks, gather high-quality professionals, and generate collaborative achievements in the field of water science and engineering, so as to achieve the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.