---On 25th November, the "2014
Training Workshop on Small Hydropower Technology for English-speaking
African Countries" was concluded successfully. Based
on the concerted efforts of all lecturers, participants
and HRC training team, this 42-day foreign-aid training
program entrusted by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce
has achieved fruitful results.
Accompanied by Mr. Li Yun, Vice President
of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Mr. Li Ge, Deputy
Director General of the Department of International Cooperation,
Science and Technology, the Ministry of Water Resources
attended the closing ceremony and delivered a speech.
Mr. Fan Aihua, Division Chief of Foreign Investment and
Economic Cooperation, Department of Commerce of Zhejiang
Province, and Ms. Cheng Xialei, Director General of HRC
addressed the ceremony respectively. Deputy directors
of HRC Mr. Xu Jincai, Mr. Huang Jianping and Mr. Xie Yimin
were also present at the closing ceremony.
Ms. Cheng made an overall summary for
the activities and achievements of the training workshop,
and on behalf of HRC, she expressed heartfelt thanks to
the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Water Resource
for their great supports, and to the participants for
their earnest attitudes and friendly cooperation during
the training workshop. Ms. Cheng mentioned that it was
very nice to learn that all the participants were satisfied
with this productive training and enjoyed their stay in
China. It was expected that after returning to their respective
countries, all the participants would play more important
roles in promoting the utilization of local SHP and other
renewable energies, and the development of rural electrification
as well, and more concrete Sino-Africa cooperative projects
would be undertaken.
On behalf of the Department of Foreign
Aid, the Ministry of Commerce and the Department of Commerce
of Zhejiang Province, Mr. Fan extended his warm congratulations
on the successful conclusion of the training workshop
and his sincere thanks to HRC for the fulfillment of the
mission entrusted by the Ministry of Commerce in a scientific
and professional way and making immense contributions
to the success of the training workshop. Mr. Fan also
showed his respect to all the participants as they had
overcome barriers on languages, habits and customs, etc.
so as to finish all the training courses. Meanwhile, Mr.
Fan introduced all the participants the achievements made
by Zhejiang Province since China's reform and opening
up, and hoped that the participants would often come back
to Zhejiang as to strengthen the ties with HRC, exchange
expertise and share experience, and promote cooperation
in the field of SHP and other renewable energies as well
as rural electrification, so as to promote the economic
development and lasting peace of African countries.
On behalf of the Department of International
Cooperation, Science and Technology, the Ministry of Water
Resources, the Deputy Director General Mr. Li delivered
a speech, congratulating all the participants on their
achievements. Mr. Li briefed the water resources development
and achievement made in China, and introduced that Chinese
Ministry of Water Resource had established bilateral and
regular exchange & cooperation mechanism with several
African countries including Egypt, South Africa, etc,
contracted the construction of hydropower projects in
over 60 countries and regions including Kenya, Zambia,
Angola, etc., and undertook considerable foreign-aid work
in the field of small hydropower development, dam construction,
water-saving irrigation, sediment control, etc, providing
consultancy service on small hydropower technology for
over 40 countries and cultivating a batch of technicians
and engineers on small hydropower technology for developing
countries. Mr. Li sincerely hoped that all the participants
will take the training workshop as an opportunity to further
strengthen the communication between China and their countries
in the field of small hydropower and other renewable energy
as well as to further promote the development of small
hydropower in African countries, thus bringing light and
benefits to more African people.
On behalf of all the participants,
the monitor Mr. Brian Moele from Atha Venture Mining of
South Africa, and the vice monitor Mr. Malan Manyundo
from the Ministry of Energy and Power Development, Zimbabwe,
also addressed the ceremony respectively, expressing their
deep gratitude to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the
Ministry of Water Resources, Nanjing Hydraulic Research
Institute and HRC. They promised that all the participants
would make contribution to bridging the cooperation between
China and African countries, making unremitting efforts
to further develop renewable energies and rural electrification
in Africa.
The wonderful speeches and addresses
drew enthusiastic applauses. With the solemn national
anthems of all the participating African countries, the
leaders of Chinese side awarded the certificates from
the Ministry of Commerce to the participants.
The training workshop was concluded
successfully and at the time to say goodbye, friendship
remains in everybody¡¯s heart. May the Sino-Africa cooperation
in the field of SHP be in full blossom in the beautiful
Africa in near future! (2014-12-08)