On the morning of December 24, Academician ZHANG Zongliang of the Chinese Academy of Engineering led the “Yunnan Water Resources Security Strategy Research” project team to the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University for research and exchange. More than 20 project team members from organizations such as PowerChina Kunming Engineering Corporation Limited (referred to as “PowerChina Kunming Institute”), Yunnan Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Survey and Design, Yunnan University, Yunnan Agricultural University, and the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research participated in the discussion. FU Xudong, Party Secretary of the School of Civil Engineering and Water Resources; Vice Deans ZHAO Jianshi and LIU Xiaoli; Deputy Party Secretary XU Mengzhen; Assistant Dean LONG Di; Deputy Director of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering HUANG Duruo; Director of the Geotechnical Institute XU Wenjie; and Department Office Director XIRAO Jiacuo attended the exchange meeting.
YAO Cuixia, Deputy Director of the Academician Innovation Research Institute at PowerChina Kunming Institute, introduced the project’s background. This is a key collaboration project between the Chinese Academy of Engineering and the Yunnan Provincial Government. The project focuses on integrating Yunnan’s water network into the new framework and positioning of the national water network, as well as addressing the new demands of Yunnan’s economic and social development. It aims to systematically study the evolution trends of water resources and water demand within the province, analyze the conflicts between water supply and demand, propose strategies and pathways for the development and utilization of transboundary river water resources, and ensure strategic water resource security for key economic regions, thereby enhancing Yunnan’s water resource security.
FU Xudong, on behalf of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering, extended a warm welcome to Academician ZHANG and the project team for their visit to Tsinghua. He stated that the construction of Yunnan’s water network is an important and distinctive component of the national water network. The research conducted under this project holds significant demonstrative value for related studies on national water network development. Subsequently, the participating faculty members of the Department of Hydraulic Engineering provided valuable opinions and suggestions for the research work from various perspectives based on their respective areas of expertise.
The two parties held detailed discussions on topics such as modern industrial production and think tank collaboration, the planning, adjustment, and optimization of the Western Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, groundwater network ecosystems, the layout of Yunnan’s regional water network, challenges related to highland lake water resources, transboundary river security strategies, geological disasters, and interdisciplinary integration. They expressed hopes for future in-depth collaboration in areas such as digital engineering, water network security, and highland lakes.
Finally, Academician ZHANG Zongliang emphasized that PowerChina Kunming Institute and the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University have a long-term and stable cooperation foundation. This research visit aims to strengthen the in-depth collaboration between both parties and conduct thorough research on innovations in areas such as water security strategies, emergency response research under changing conditions, national strategic water resource reserves, international rivers, and water resource security for key economic regions.
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