On April 12, 2018, Vice Minister Tian Xuebin met with the delegation headed by Mr. Felix Reinders, President of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, and two sides exchanged views on facilitating in-depth cooperation.

　　Vice Minister Tian Xuebin said that the ministry has worked closely with the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage over the past years, and two sides established a solid cooperative relationship. Several Chinese experts were elected as Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen of the International Commission of Irrigation and Drainage. China also participated in international conferences, BBS and water sector activities initiated by the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, to share Chinese experience and solutions. In recent years, the Ministry of Water Resources of China has made donations to the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, which has authorized the China National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage to carry out a series of activities. Thanks to the support of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, 13 ancient Chinese irrigation projects were awarded the title of “World Heritage”. Vice minister Tian also briefly introduced the designing concepts and performance of ancient water supply systems such as Dujiang Weir and Lin Canal, and modern water diversion scheme of the South-to-North Water Diversion. Tian mentioned that the ministry is willing to continue the cooperation with the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, taking advantage of this platform to share experiences of China in water-saving irrigation and drainage with the rest of the world, and recommend more Chinese experts to the Commission. Two sides agreed to make joint efforts to pursue the Sustainable Development Agenda water-related goals.

　　Mr. Felix Reinders participated in the Asian Youth Training Workshop for the “Belt and Road” countries and International Seminar on Irrigation Technology Innovation jointly organized by the China National Committee on Irrigation and Drainage with International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage. The Seminar introduced the latest concepts and best practices for irrigation development and high-efficient water-saving irrigation technologies and large-scale irrigation district construction in China. He hoped that both sides could enhance pragmatic cooperation and strengthen exchanges in agricultural irrigation and high-efficient water-saving technologies.