On April 7, 2014, Prof. BAI Chunli, President of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and an eight-member delegation visited the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) to discuss ways to strengthen the collaboration between the two institutions. ICIMOD and CAS have been strategic partners for decades, working in the areas of scientific research and knowledge sharing for sustainable mountain development.  

A Memorandum of Understanding is signed between TPE programme of the CAS and ICIMOD, represented by Prof. Yao Tandong, Co-chair of TPE, and Dr David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD. Photo: Jitendra Bajracharya/ICIMOD

“CAS looks forward to strengthened collaboration with ICIMOD to address issues of common interest in the countries of the region,” said Prof. BAI Chunli.  

To mark the ongoing cooperation, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Third Pole Environment programme of CAS and ICIMOD that will help further scientific understanding of climate change in the Hindu Kush Himalayas and bolster cooperation among countries in the region. The agreement outlined areas for cooperation, including cryosphere and atmospheric monitoring; high-altitude wetland and river systems; climate change and anthropogenic impacts; ecological monitoring and assessment; and policy outreach and the promotion of the Mountain Agenda in regional and global forums. The agreement was signed by Dr David Molden, Director General of ICIMOD, and Prof. Tandong Yao, Co-Chair, of the Third Pole Environment.  

Prof. CUI Peng, Member of CAS from Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, CAS attended this visit.