To further implement the important speech spirit of President Xi Jinping on China-Arab cooperation and to comprehensively strengthen and deepen cooperation with the Arab League, Lanzhou University has meticulously planned and scientifically laid out its strategy. Supported by the first-class discipline of atmospheric science and under the project support of the Ministry of Science and Technology, through the National Key Research and Development Program's "International Cooperation in Scientific and Technological Innovation" key special project "Research on the Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources in the Nile Basin and Adaptation," Lanzhou University aims to expand cooperation between China and Africa on climate change and promote the application and transformation of achievements in the field of climate. The project was initiated and designed by the team led by Academician Huang Jianping, Director of the Western Ecological Security Collaborative Innovation Center at Lanzhou University, with Professor Guan Xiaodan from the College of Atmospheric Sciences serving as the chief scientist. The project aims to comprehensively address the impacts of climate change and the construction of dams upstream of the Nile, providing technological support for effective water resource management in Egypt.
From January 14 to 17, Academician Huang Jianping led a delegation to Egypt. Professor Guan Xiaodan, vice president of the College of Atmospheric Sciences, Xie Hongbin, vice president of the School of Navigation at Dalian Maritime University, and Wang Yi, director of the Operations Office of the World Meteorological Center (Beijing) visited Egypt together for friendly visits and project exchanges.
Academician Huang Jianping and his delegation held two meetings with the Egyptian Water Resources Research Institute. Professor Ahmed Moustafa El-belesy, Director of the Egyptian Water Resources Research Institute, met with the Chinese delegation. Subsequently, both sides had thorough discussions on details related to project initiation and implementation, including specific plans for data, models, and water resource allocation in the Nile Basin. At the project seminar, Professor Guan Xiaodan provided a detailed introduction to the history and recent developments of Lanzhou University and the Western Ecological Security Collaborative Innovation Center, as well as the overall implementation plan and significant progress made so far. Professor Jian Jun briefed the attendees on the overall situation of the Chinese partner organizations, while Director Wang Yi introduced the development of meteorological monitoring and forecasting technology and international cooperation by the China Meteorological Administration in recent years. Finally, the Chinese delegation participated in group discussions focusing on the challenges and issues faced in the management and operation of the Aswan Dam.
Professor Guan Xiaodan introduced the progress of Lanzhou University and the project
The Chinese team co-hosted a seminar on Nile water resources with the Egyptian Institute of Water Resources
To effectively conduct research on the relationship between water resource utilization and climate change at the Aswan Dam, Academician Huang Jianping and his team also conducted on-site inspections of the Aswan Dam and its reservoir management department. They thoroughly understood the construction history, internal structure, management and operation plans, as well as the significant role of the Aswan Dam in Egypt's industrial, agricultural, and other socio-economic sectors, including its impact on 11 African countries. Both Chinese and Egyptian sides engaged in in-depth exchanges. In response to the current issues at the Aswan Dam, the Chinese side proposed preliminary solutions and formulated detailed plans for addressing these problems during the project implementation period.
The Chinese team visited the Aswan Dam
During the visit, Academician Huang Jianping and his delegation were also invited to visit the Egyptian National Meteorological Authority. The Director of the Egyptian Meteorological Authority, Hesham Hassan Tahoun, met with Academician Huang Jianping and his team. Both sides watched a documentary on meteorological development in China and Egypt and had cordial and friendly exchanges. Academician Huang Jianping and his delegation gained a deep understanding of the key directions of development at the Egyptian Meteorological Authority in recent years. Both sides reached preliminary intentions for cooperation in areas such as early warning of drought and climate change monitoring, and desertification.
The Chinese team visited the Egyptian Meteorological Bureau
Egypt is an important member of the Arab League, and Sino-Egyptian climate cooperation will usher in a new chapter for pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa. This visit has opened up new fields, directions, and approaches for international academic collaboration between Lanzhou University and African countries, laying a solid foundation for promoting various forms and deep-level cooperation in areas such as climate change and water resource development and utilization.
Text: Zhang Guolong, picture: Zhang Guolong, editor: Ma Bin
