China has successfully concluded two international training programmes: the Training Course on Water Ecosystem Protection and Restoration Technologies for Developing Countries and the Training Course on Flood Control, Early Warning, Forecasting and Automated Hydrological Monitoring for Developing Countries. The programmes brought together 34 professionals from 10 countries, including Grenada, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nepal, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda and Viet Nam.

Organized by the Ministry of Commerce of China, the programmes were jointly implemented by the Institute of Rural Electrification and the Nanjing Research Institute of Hydrology and Water Resources Automation (NIHWA) under the Ministry of Water Resources, in cooperation with the UNESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee and the WMO Regional Training Center. The initiative aimed to share China’s technical experience in water governance while promoting practical cooperation among developing countries.

The 21-day programmes, which opened in Hangzhou on 6 November, combined technical training with policy dialogue and cultural exchange activities. Key technical modules covered water environment protection and management, integrated river and lake governance, advances in hydrological monitoring technologies, China’s flood forecasting standards, and the Huai River Basin flood forecasting system. Participants also attended sessions introducing China’s national conditions and approaches to water governance.

As part of the programmes, participants conducted field visits to several leading water-related institutions, including the Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, NIHWA, the National Water Museum of China, and the Quality Supervision and Testing Center for Hydrological and Geotechnical Instruments of the Ministry of Water Resources.

The training concluded with national presentations, during which participants shared their countries’ experiences, technological progress, current challenges and development needs, and explored potential areas for future cooperation.

At the closing ceremony, Professor Wu Shiqiang, Vice President of the Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, congratulated the participants on completing the programme and presented certificates. He encouraged participants to maintain professional exchanges, continue sharing experience, and strengthen long-term cooperation in their future work.

Mr. Liu Jinping, Hydrologist of the Typhoon Committee Secretariat, also addressed the ceremony and presented certificates to participants nominated by the Secretariat. He expressed appreciation to the Chinese Government for organizing the programmes and reaffirmed the Typhoon Committee Hydrology Working Group’s commitment to supporting developing countries in water resources management, flood risk reduction, early warning systems and hydrological monitoring.

The training programmes have significantly enhanced international exchange and cooperation among developing countries and Typhoon Committee Members in the fields of water ecosystem protection, flood forecasting and early warning, disaster risk reduction, and automated hydrological monitoring, laying a solid foundation for future collaboration.

Group photo

Wu Shiqiang, Vice President of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, presenting certificates to participants

Liu Jinping, Hydrology Expert of the TC Secretariat, presenting certificates to participants