Meeting

Lab tour at Tiexinqiao Water Experiment Center

Visit to NHRI’s History Exhibition Hall

On June 1, 2026, Mr. Francisco Lefler, President of World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC), Mr. Geert van Cappllen, Secretary General of PIANC, et al. visited NHRI. Mr. DAI Jiqun, NHRI President and Ms. ZHANG Qiaomei, Secretary General of China Water Transportation Construction Association, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. The meeting was chaired by Mr. LI Jun, NHRI Vice President.

At the meeting, President DAI Jiqun extended a warm welcome to PIANC President and Secretary General, and other guests. He noted that NHRI and PIANC had carried out fruitful cooperation in areas such as ship lift technology, inland waterway planning, international standard development, and academic conferences. He expressed hope for further deepening collaboration in key areas including technical breakthroughs in navigation structures, water transport infrastructure expansion and renovation, as well as smart and low-carbon shipping. Secretary General ZHANG Qiaomei introduced the association’s involvement in relevant PIANC activities.

President Lefler and Secretary General Cappllen expressed their gratitude for NHRI’s warm hospitality and highly praised the longterm cooperation achievements between both parties. They noted that NHRI’s technical expertise and engineering practices in navigation facilities and smart waterborne transport were deeply impressive. PIANC places great importance on cooperation with Chinese counterparts in standard formulation, technical exchange, and talent development, and looks forward to achieving more substantial progress in the future.

Before the meeting, Vice President LI Jun accompanied President Lefler and his delegation on a visit to Tiexinqiao Water Experiment Center and History Exhibition Hall, NHRI. Heads of relevant NHRI departments and experts attended the meeting.