The inaugural meeting of Chinese National Committee for the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR-China) held in Beijing on October 8, 2010. The IRDR-China is committed to promote a high level of international exchange and cooperation, make full use of international scientific and technological resources, and enhance the level of disaster prevention and mitigation. The convention brought together over 40 leadership and researchers involved in this international research program, including Prof. Fu Congbin, Vice Chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) and Executive Board member of the International Council for Science -- ICSU), and Cheng Donghong, Executive Secretary of CAST.

Ground on the introduction about the overall progress of the Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) program by Dr. Jane E. Rovins, Executive Director of IRDR, there was a heated discussion among the participating experts over the mechanisms of the Commission's work, a comprehensive initiative to assist IRDR implementation, methods and means to coordinate the various ministries and research institutes regarding the research resources, scientific forces, major national disaster mitigation projects, and the combination of the IRDR program within and outside China.

According to the remarks made by Fu and Cheng, IRDR-China will make utmost efforts to smoothly implement the program through its cutting edge S&T advantages. It also would like to work with the institutes involved to strengthen exchanges and enhance coordination for the further S&T development.

Based upon the propositions given by the participating specialists, and the vigorous support from CAS, CAST and other prestigious institutes in the related fields, IRDR-China will endeavor to build up a platform for international cooperation programs, they added.

Convention hall

Group photo