The report of the 21st Japan-People’s Republic of China conference on rivers and dams

1. Overview of Conference

The Japan-People’s Republic of China conference is part of bilateral technical cooperation which was agreed during the 3rd Japan-People’s Republic of China technical cooperation committee held in April 1985. Since the first meeting was held in October 1985, the conference has been held every year in the two countries alternately to share study results and exchange opinions on technical issues of rivers and dams that the two countries are facing.

This year’s Japan-People’s Republic of China conference on rivers and dams was held in Shanghai, China. On Monday, October 9, 2006, the conference was held at Bureau of Taihu Lake Basin, and from Tuesday, October 10 through Friday, October 13, inspection visits were made to the neo-natural river reconstruction site in Shanghai city, Water Resource Facilities of Xukou in Suzhou, and Levee of Taihu Lake, and to the waster environment reconstruction operation at Wuxi Wulihu Lake, the pump stations in Jiangdu and Baoying, which are located in the east route of the South-North Water Transfer Project, and to the Taizhou Yinjianghe River and Harbour Station (newly established water channel).

2. Main Itinerary for Japanese Delegates
The main itinerary for the delegates is shown in the table below.

Date	Itinerary
Sun, October 8	Arriving at China. Visiting the Bureau of Taihu Lake Basin.
Mon, October 9	21st Japan-People’s Republic of China conference on rivers and dams
Tue, October 10	Inspection visit to the neo-natural river reconstruction site in Shanghai city
Wed, October 11	Inspection visit to Water Resource Facilities of Xukou in Suzhou, and Levee of Taihu Lake; Inspection visit to water environment reconstruction operation at Wuxi Wulihu Lake
Thur, October 12	Inspection visit to Baoying pump station of the South-North Water Transfer Project; Inspection visit to the water facilities in Jiangdu and water conveyance operation in Taizhou.
Fri, October 13	Inspection visit to Zhouzhuang
Sat, October 14	Leaving for Japan

3. Delegates from Japan and China
From the Japan side, 9 delegates led by Mr. Fumio Hibi, Deputy Director-General, River Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport took part in the conference. From the China side, 21 delegates led by Mr. Gao Bo, Director of Bureau of International Cooperation and Technology, Ministry of Water Resources attended.

4. Presentations
4.1 Common Issue 1: River administrative structure

(China)	Administration of constructions within the river course control areas Ma Jianxin, Bureau of Construction Management, Ministry of Water Resources
(Japan)	Flood control based on the use of land Wataru Ohnishi, Director of Water Resources Division, Japan Institute of Construction Engineering

4.2 Common Issue 2: Construction of neo-natural rivers

(China)	Reinforcing maintenance of water facilities operation in Taihu Lake Basin area to preserve rivers and lakes Wu Haoyun, Deputy Director of Bureau of Taihu Lake Basin, Ministry of Water Resources
(Japan)	Construction of neo-natural river in Japan Minoru Kobayashi, Deputy Director of Forth Research Division, Foundation for Riverfront Improvement and Restoration

(China)	Practice and attempts of construction of neo-natural rivers in Shanghai

4.3 Common Issue 3: Measures for sediment-related disasters

(Japan)	Sediment-related disasters in Japan and their measures Hiroyuki Ohno, Director for Sabo Planning Coordination, Sabo (Erosion and Sediment Control) Planning Division, Sabo (Erosion and Sediment Control) Department, River Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
(China)	Actual situation of sporadic geological disasters in China and measures through land improvements Cao Wenhong, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research

5. Agenda of 22nd Japan-People’s Republic of China conference on rivers and dams
Three themes are set out for the agenda of the 22nd Japan-People’s Republic of China conference on rivers and dams: “Minimum environmental flow volume to maintain the eco-system in rivers,” “Construction of drainage basins in China and its management,” and “Study and utilization of hazard maps in Japan.” The conference will be held in Japan for about 1 week around mid September to mid November.