From June 10th to 13th, 2025, the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (UNESCO-IHP) and 60 years of UNESCO Water Sciences were held at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France. The gatherings brought together over 600 participants, including representatives from UN agencies, ministerial-level officials from multiple countries, heads of international organizations, and members of UNESCO Water Family. The Chinese delegation, led by Mr. LIU Zhiyu, Director-General of the Department of Hydrology, Ministry of Water Resources, actively participated in the events. The delegation included Mr. WANG Zongzhi, Deputy Director of the Hydrology and Water Resources Department of NHRI, and Ms. WANG Yining from the International Cooperation Office of NHRI.
Chinese Delegation Attends the Opening Ceremony
On June 11th, a high-level event marking the 50th anniversary of IHP commenced with opening remarks by Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General and Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan. Ministerial-level representatives from over 10 countries addressed the theme "Water Science for Life, Prosperity and Peace", highlighting IHP's pivotal role in water governance and presenting their national water strategies. The high-level panel discussion, titled "The Future of Water", featured chairs from nearly 10 international water organizations. Participants emphasized the urgency of interdisciplinary and cross-regional collaboration to address global water security challenges, calling for accelerated progress toward UN 2030 SDG6 through scientific innovation, policy coordination, and youth empowerment.
During the celebrations, NHRI was honored to receive the Water Training and Education Label, jointly conferred by the International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research (IAHR) and UNESCO-IHP. The label was presented by IAHR President Philippe Gourbesville and IHP Secretary-General Abou Amani, marking the international recognition of NHRI’s graduate education programs in water-related disciplines. This prestigious accreditation will significantly enhance the global credibility and admission competitiveness of NHRI’s water education curriculums, while providing access to professional development recommendations from international experts and creating new opportunities for academic collaboration and joint research initiatives with leading global water organizations.
Deputy Director WANG Zongzhi Receives the Label on Behalf of NHRI
From June 12th to 13th, over 40 side events were successfully held at UNESCO headquarters. China organized a side event "From Scientific Frontiers to Water Action", which brought together more than 130 representatives from IHP National Committees, international organizations, research institutions, universities, and enterprises. Director-General LIU Zhiyu delivered a keynote speech titled "Current Status and Prospects of Hydrological Development in China" at the event, expressing China's willingness to share its water governance expertise with nations worldwide and jointly advance UN 2030 SDG6.
Mr. LIU Zhiyu Invites Distinguished Guests to Attend Academic Exchanges to Celebrate the 90th Anniversary of NHRI
NHRI Promotional Materials Exhibited During the Celebrations
IHP stands as the sole intergovernmental platform addressing current global water challenges. The Celebrations of 50th Anniversary of IHP and 60 Years of UNESCO Water Sciences represent landmark UNESCO events. As the host institution of the Secretariat Office of IHP China National Committee, NHRI has actively participated in and substantially contributed to these celebrations, reinforcing IHP's platform role while elevating NHRI’s global influence in water sciences. This engagement has created strategic opportunities to advance the integration of China's hydrological expertise with international standards, positioning China to play an increasingly pivotal role in global water governance, scientific research collaboration, and technological leadership.
