In this golden season of harvest, we all get together for the 1st China-ASEAN Dam Science Popularization Contest, which is co-organized by Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI) and Lancang-Mekong Water Resources Cooperation Centre. The contest kicks off successfully with the guidance of the Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources, P. R. China, and the assistance of ASEAN Center for Energy. Here, on behalf of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), I would like to express my sincere thanks to the supervisor, co-organizers, supporters and judges for your strong supports to this contest. Also, I would like to extend my sincere wishes to all the contestants and warm welcome to all the Chinese and foreign representatives who are watching this contest now.

Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute was founded in 1935. It is China’s first multipurpose national hydraulic research complex. At the very beginning, it mainly engaged in basic studies, applied research, core technology research and development in the field of water conservancy, hydropower and water transportation. Since 1940s, NHRI has begun to conduct research in the field of reservoir dam construction and safety management and achieved a series of fruitful results, vigorously promoting the scientific and technological progress in terms of dam construction and safety guarantee of reservoirs and hydropower stations in China. Meanwhile, NHRI has gradually showed its technical advantages in the active participation in the popularization of dam safety in China, and the compilation of several science popularization and publicity materials such as Guide for Inspection of Reservoir Dam Safety and a book of Hello, Dam in English. NHRI has dedicated itself to exchanging China’s technical experience in reservoir dam safety and operation management with domestic and overseas experts and scholars, enhancing the public’s scientific knowledge on reservoir dams, and promoting the public sharing of scientific and technological achievements.  

ASEAN countries have achieved significant development in reservoir and dam construction in recent years, which has promoted local economic and social development and improved the quality of local people’s lives effectively. Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute has conducted comprehensive, in-depth and fruitful cooperation with ASEAN countries in the field of dam safety, and played a leading role in undertaking cooperative projects, such as Construction and Demonstration of Dam Safety Guarantee System in ASEAN Countries, Technology Sharing and Capacity Building on Safety Management for Hydropower Stations and Dams in Lancang-Mekong Countries, Action Plan on Lancang-Mekong Dam Health Check, etc. Today, experts, scholars and contestants from ASEAN countries, China, and some international organizations all gathered here either online or offline to share and popularize scientific knowledge of hydro science, especially dam science. Aiming at disseminating scientific ideas, advocating scientific methods, and promoting the sharing of scientific and technological achievements in dam safety management, this contest serves as a platform for practitioners or future practitioners in the industry to exchange their knowledge and experience. It is, at the same time, an important measure to publicize and serve dam construction and safety management in China and ASEAN countries. Nowadays, we are separated by the Covid-19 pandemic and not able to meet each other face to face, yet an ancient Chinese saying goes “Mountains and seas cannot distance companions with shared aspirations.” Dam safety concerns the economic and social progress and sustainable development of each country. And we sincerely hope to take this contest as an opportunity for China and ASEAN countries to share new technologies and practical experiences in dam construction and safety management. It is truly a brilliant chance to jointly publicize and popularize hydro science, especially dam science, and continuously improve public’s hydro science literacy. 

Finally, I wish this contest a great success. And I hope all the contestants can get good grades! Thank you!