On September 12, China (Sichuan)-South Asia Disasters Prevention and Mitigation Forum was held at the academic report hall of the Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction of SCU. This is one of the sub-forums of the 16thWest China Conference on Overseas High-tech Talents in 2017.
With the theme of “deepening pragmatic cooperation in the field of disaster prevention, mitigation and relief in China and South Asia” against the backdrop of "Belt and Road" Initiative, the two-day long forum was conducted by focusing such topics as disaster prevention, mitigation and relief, post-disaster restoration and reconstruction and the innovation in disaster education. Through this forum, we will continue to strengthen close cooperation with South Asia in the field of disaster prevention, mitigation and relief, promote the international cooperation in the regional disaster prevention, mitigation and relief, and discuss the innovative model of disaster education.
Hou Taiping, Vice President of SCU, addressed the opening ceremony that this forum had attracted leading figures and famous scholars in the field of disaster prevention and mitigation in South Asia and China. While discussing the earthquakes, geological disasters, meteorological disasters, as well as the prevention and mitigation and post-disaster reconstruction, the concerned parties will jointly build aglobal inter-disciplinary cooperation platform, and promote the disaster mitigation by means of sci-tech innovation and the transformation of achievements. Also, they would inject new vitality into the sustainable development in the countries along the Belt and Road, and create a new cooperation pattern in the international prevention, mitigation and relief of disasters, as well as innovation of technologies for prevention and mitigation of disasters.
Mr.H.E. Leela Mani Paudyal, Ambassador of Nepal in China, expressed in his speech that Nepal is a disaster-prone country encountered with the same challenges in the prevention and relief of disasters as in Sichuan, China and other countries in South Asia. He hoped that all countries could cooperate, share experiences and achievements. This forum will surely promote the in-depth exchange and cooperation between China and the countries in South Asia in disaster prevention and mitigation, he noted.
Prof. Ranjith Dissanayake of the University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka, Prof. Jiba Raj Pokharel, Dean ofNepal Academy of Science and Technology, Prof. Tahmeed Malik Al Hussaini of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and Mr. Yang Siquan, Chief Engineer of the National Disaster Reduction Center of China, shared their capabilities and experience in the disaster prevention and mitigation in their own countries.
In the round-table meeting, Mr. Rakesh Hamal, member of the Social Welfare Committee Executive Committee of Nepal, Zhang Ying, Senior Engineer of the Beijing Earthquake Bureau under the China Earthquake Administration and China Association of Disaster Prevention, Prof. Gretchen Kalonji, dean of Sichuan University--Hong Kong Polytechnic University Institute for Disaster Management and Reconstruction, Prof. Md. Shamsuzzoha of the Disaster Management Institute ofPatuakhali Science and Technology University, Bangladesh, delivered speeches respectively about two themes: the role of NGOs and private enterprises in the disaster prevention and mitigation; and the cooperation amongst institutions of higher learning: transnational and multi-institutional alliance on educational curriculum innovation.
