On Tuesday, June 18, 2024, a meeting was held with the participation of officials and experts from the Department of Natural Resources and Watershed Management of the country and the International Center for Integrated Watershed Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions (ICIMWB) at the  NRW organization. The aim of this meeting was to develop scientific, research, and executive cooperation in the field of natural resources and watershed management between the Islamic Republic of Iran and China through the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The meeting was chaired by Dr. Hassan Vahid, Deputy of Watershed Management, Rangelands, and Desert Affairs, on behalf of the Head of the Department of Natural Resources.

Initially, Dr. Vahid welcomed the attendees and introduced Iran's natural resources and the organization. He then introduced the members present at the meeting. Following that, Dr. Malekian (a faculty member of the Faculty of Natural Resources at the University of Tehran) elaborated on the recent achievements of the governmental and university authorities of Gansu Province, China, in Iran. He also highlighted the agreements between the University of Tehran and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, noting the similarities between Gansu Province and Iran in terms of ecosystems and natural resource and watershed management issues.

Subsequently, the Chinese representatives expressed their pleasure at the opening of collaboration and elaborated on the longstanding relations between Iran and China, the benefits of the Silk Road Economic Belt, and China's priorities in natural resource management, agriculture, and the environment. They emphasized the mutual transfer of experiences, education, and research.

Dr. Hamid Nouri, the Director of the International Center for Integrated Watershed Management in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions and the Director of the Watershed and Soil Conservation Office, discussed the common points of the agreements between the governments of Iran and China and the participation of both countries in various international treaties and conferences. He also introduced the International Center for Integrated Watershed Management and its affiliation with UNESCO, mentioning China's objectives in the "Belt and Road Initiative" that are also of interest to us. He proposed collaboration in the Integrated management of the Atrak River watershed, which lies along the Silk Road.

Considering the discussions at the meeting, the following resolutions were adopted for further review and presentation to the Chinese representatives:

1. Planning for the dispatch of experts to training courses at scientific and research centers - Feasibility study and planning for a joint conference in 2025 on integrated watershed management and food security.

2. Collaboration in organizing summer school programs in the current year.

3. Collaboration in establishing a Climate Change Park to enhance public awareness, especially among young generations.

4. Collaboration in identifying, evaluating, and documenting successful experiences and indigenous knowledge in watershed management and combating land degradation, as well as participating in the Indigenous Knowledge Prize program included in the agenda of the International Center for Integrated Watershed Management.

5. Participation and cooperation of China in the implementation of the Integrated watershed management project in the Atrak region as a model for sustainable land management along the Silk Road.

6. Sharing scientific and research achievements of the Chinese Academy of Sciences with research and execution departments in Iran with an emphasis on food security, land conservation, sustainable agriculture, desertification control, and sustainable water and soil management.

7. Drafting a quadrilateral memorandum between the University of Tehran, the Department of Natural Resources, the International Center for Integrated Watershed Management, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

8. Membership of a representative from China in the Governing Council of the International Center for Integrated Watershed Management and cooperation in organizing the second Governing Board Meeting.