On October 29-30, 2020, the South-to-North Water Diversion Project Expert Committee (Hereinafter referred to as the "Expert Committee") organized a meeting for the technical consultation on the Guidelines on Safety Evaluation of South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project (Hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines") in Beijing. The advisory expert panel was composed of some members of the Expert Committee and invited well-known experts in relevant area. Academician CHEN Houqun, director of the Expert Committee, served as the panel leader.

After reviewing the Guidelines and listening to a report by DAI Zhanqiang, deputy director of the Construction and Administration Bureau of South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project, on the preparation background of the Guidelines, and another report by project leader MA Fuheng, deputy division director of Dam Safety Management Center of MWR, on previous reviews, opinions solicitation, revisions and main contents of the Guidelines, the expert panel concluded a technical advisory opinion that it was necessary to formulate the Guidelines in order to standardize the safety evaluation work, including the work content, methods and safety criteria, as the South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project was a major national strategic infrastructure. With the features of sufficient compilation basis, reasonable structural framework, correct technical route, comprehensive content and strong operability, the Guidelines may be issued for implementation after appropriate modifications and reporting to competent authority.

The South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project is characterized by long route, numerous types and numbers of structures, complex engineering geological conditions and operation environment. At the same time, as a linear project, there is no regulating reservoir along the route. To ensure its safe operation, it is necessary to establish a sound safety evaluation mechanism, improve the safety evaluation methods, and propose relevant evaluation standards. To this end, the Construction and Administration Bureau of South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project entrusted Dam Safety Management Center of MWR to undertake the compilation of the Safety Appraisal Methods for South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project and the Guidelines. The former was promulgated and implemented in March 2020. As a technical supporting standard, the Guidelines will provide a scientific basis for the safety status judgement, risks and defects detection, and repair and maintenance of the South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project.

The meeting saw the attendance of leaders and representatives from the Bureau of South-to-North Water Diversion Project Planning, Design and Management, Construction and Administration Bureau of South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route Project, Dam Safety Management Center, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute and Hohai University.