Switzerland and China want to continue their cooperation in the field of risk prevention

Bern, 10.11.2008 - Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger held a meeting in Berne with the Chinese Minister for Water, Chen Lei. Both politicians were convinced that Switzerland and China can learn from one another through cooperative measures in the fields of water management and risk prevention. They want to carry on sharing experiences and to record them in a Memorandum of Understanding.

Switzerland and China face similar natural risks because of their mountainous areas. At the same time both countries use their water power resources and are dealing with the problems of managing river basins, which will become even more important in the wake of climate change. Since 2001 Switzerland has maintained a fruitful collaboration with China in the areas of prevention and risk management of natural hazards. The Federal Office for the Environment, FOEN, is in close contact with the Chinese Minister for Water and has, for example, been involved in a project for the improvement of runoff forecasting in the Yangtze basin.

Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger and the Chinese Minister for Water, Chen Lei, emphasized at a meeting in Berne on 10th. November 2008 that both sides can benefit from collaboration, the sharing of experiences and the  transfer of know-how. They welcomed the implementation of further joint projects. At the same time they agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding in order to strengthen the collaboration between the two countries in the area of water management.

Switzerland is also very interested in learning from China's experiences in dealing with flood events. On the same day as the Ministers met, experts from the two countries held a meeting in Berne on the subject of risk management and dealing with natural hazards.


Address for enquiries

Media Service FOEN, 031 322 90 00



Publisher

Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications
https://www.uvek.admin.ch/uvek/en/home.html

https://www.admin.ch/content/gov/en/start/dokumentation/medienmitteilungen.msg-id-22737.html