An 18-person delegation from K-water Academy visited IWHR on November 11, 2015 and was greeted by IWHR Chief Engineer Prof. Gao Zhanyi and other experts. Discussions were made particularly on smart water management and water quality protection.

Prof. Gao welcomed the delegation and pointed out this was the second visit of K-water since the signing of a cooperative agreement on January 28 this year. IWHR has maintained a close relation with Korean counterparts, supporting each other in global water events, including the 22nd ICID Congress (Gwangju, September 14-20, 2014) and the 7th World Water Forum (Daegu and Gyeongbuk, April 12-17, 2015). He then gave a brief introduction of the integrated water resources management practice in China, as well as the latest governmental policies on smart water supply and water quality protection. Dr. Gao expressed the willingness on behalf of IWHR to conduct more bilateral exchange and cooperation in water-related fields that interest both sides.

Prof. Kim Jiwon, the leader of the delegation and a professor at K-Water academy, thanked IWHR for the hospitable greeting, and briefed the host on the specialties of the delegates as well as the main objectives of their visit to China. He said China is a major country dealing with water in Asia, and has rich experience in addressing water scarcity, protecting water resources, improving water quality and restoring water ecology. He hoped K-water could enhance exchange and cooperation with IWHR and other water-related institutions in China.

The Korean guests also gave reports at the meeting on K-water introduction, the Smart Water Management Initiative (SWMI) initiated by K-Water, the preparation of Asia Water Council (AWC) and the latest achievements of the smart water supply campaign that takes Dongducheon (a city within the capital area) as a pilot. Researchers from IWHR also made presentations on the practice of integrated water resources management and smart water management in China, and the water quality monitoring and protection in Three Gorges reservoir area.

The ensuing discussion mainly focused on the comparison of water resources management in both countries and smart water supply.