Flood Disaster Risk Management Study Tour for Bangladeshi Officials in Thailand and China: 12 – 23 October 2004

A Technical Study Tour on Flood Disaster Risk Management for Bangladeshi Officials was organized from 12 to 23 October 2004 in Thailand and China, with funding from DANIDA. Seven senior officials working with the Water Development Board, Ministry of Water Resources and Ministry of Planning attended the study tour.

The study tour comprised of the Flood Disaster Risk Management Course (FDRM-6) with field visits in Bangkok and a study tour in China. In Bangkok the officials visited the Remote Sensing Center of Thailand and the Meteorological Department of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Thailand.

From 14 to 20 October, the officials traveled to three cities in China – Beijing, Wuhan and Yichang. In Beijing, they visited the Research Center on Flood and Drought Disaster Reduction (CDR), China ’s Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR). Professor Cheng Xiaotao, Executive Director of CDR warmly welcomed the officials and made a presentation on Flood Management in China. During their visit to the Remote Sensing Center of the Ministry of Water Resources, Dr Li Jiren, Director made a presentation on Use of Remote Sensing to Monitor Flood. The Deputy Director-General of International Cooperation Department of Ministry of Water Resources Madam Meng Zhimin welcomed the officials in the Ministry. The National Headquarters of Flood and Drought Prevention also gave a presentation on Flood Risk Management Policy in China. The officials also visited the National Disaster Reduction Center of China (NDRCC) of the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MoCA). The Executive Deputy Director-General of NDRCC/ Department of Disaster and Social Relief of MoCA Dr Zou Ming gave an overview of the status of disaster reduction in China. Dr Zheng Yuanchang, Director of Disaster Relief Division of Department of Disaster and Social Relief of MoCA made a presentation on Natural Disaster and its Management Policy in China.

After the trip, the officials went to Wuhan, where they had meetings with the leaders of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Scientific Research Institute (CRSRI). Presentations were made by Dr Wu Daoxi, Vice Director of Bureau of River Management of Changjiang Water Resources Commission, and Dr Chen Jin, Vice President of CRSRI on Evaluation on Flood Control System of Yangtze Basin, and Yangtze River Water Resource Management and Three Gorges Project. They also visited the Model of the Three Gorges Project and the actual site of the project. The officials stated that the site visit to the Yichang - Three Gorges Project was very useful.

All the participants expressed their immense satisfaction of having learned a lot from the study tour. The leader of the Bangladeshi delegation, Mr. Sharif Rafiqul Islam, Chief Planning of Water Development Board of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Water Resources in his statement said – “it was a meaningful, successful and pleasant study tour in China .”

During the study tour, ADPC, Bangladeshi and Chinese officials had an opportunity to further discuss on developing programs between China and Bangladesh on flood disaster risk management through ADPC.

Please click here to see photographs.