To promote “World Declaration on Hydropower and Dams for African Sustainable Development”, initiated by ICOLD and other relevant international organizations, and to implement the spirit of the CHINCOLD 2010 Annual Board Meeting, CHINCOLD has successfully organized workshop and technical tour for African delegates during 1-7 November 2010 in China.
The workshop and technical tour has received since its initiation in June 2010 passionate concern and energetic support from African ICOLD national Committees, CHINCOLD members, and other relevant organizations. The CHINCOLD activity has also drawn attention from African Embassies in Beijing. In total CHINCOLD had invited 12 experts from 12 different African countries to attend the activity. Finally, 9 African delegates joined in the CHINCOLD workshop and technical tour, including Mr. Albert BERE from Burkina Faso, Mr. Emmanuel Dankwa OSAFO from Ghana, Mr. Justino VIEIRA from Guinea Bissau, Mr. Mountaga DIALLO from Mali, Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould MERZOUG from Mauritania, Mr. Carlos Bonete MARTINHO from Mozambique, Mr. Saloum CISSE from Senegal, Mr. Mutaz Musa Abdalla SALIM from Sudan, and Mr. Joackim JOSEPH from Tanzania. The other 3 African experts didn’t join due to the visa and funding problems.
On 2 November 2010, the Workshop and Round Table Meeting on “Sustainable Development of Dams and Hydropower” was successfully held by CHINCOLD in Beijing. More than 50 participants, including African delegates and Chinese high-level officers and experts from government, investors, designers, contractors, etc., join in and discuss topics related to dam construction and hydropower development. After the Workshop and Round Table Meeting, technical tours to Xiaolangdi Project, Shuibuya Hydropower Project, and Three Gorges Project, were arranged by CHINCOLD for African delegates during 3-6 November 2010. On 7 November 2010, President Wang Shucheng of CHINCOLD met with African delegates and hosted a Banquet for African delegates. President Wang introduced the current situations and future plans of dam construction and hydropower development in China and discussed with African friends on deepening future cooperation and exchanges in the field of water resources and hydropower development.
The CHINCOLD Workshop and Technical Tour has provided a platform for cross-border communication, through which mutual understanding and cooperation would be enhanced between African delegates and Chinese Professionals in water sector. CHINCOLD will continue to make contributions to promote the World Declaration and help African countries in water resources and hydropower development in the future.
