The launching ceremony of Asia-Europe Water Resources Research and Utilization Center & the 1st seminar on Asia-Europe water resources cooperation, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, MOST and the People's Government of Hunan Province, were held in Changsha on August 22th and 23th.

The representatives from related agencies jointly inaugurated the center and its website. The center signed letters of intent for partnership with 10 water-related institutions at home and abroad among the members of Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM).

At the seminar, the representatives shared their experiences on water management and sustainable utilization, and discussed how to promote future cooperation.

Back in October 2010, Premier Wen Jiabao proposed to set up Asia-Europe Water Resources Research and Utilization Center in Hunan Province at the 8th Asia-Europe Summit. The proposal was welcomed by ASEM members and was included in Chairman's Statement of the meeting. This center is the first practical cooperative agency established in China since the start of Asia-Europe summit mechanism.