The 25th International Congress on Irrigation and Drainage, along with the 74th Executive Council Meeting of the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, took place in the eastern Indian city of Visakhapatnam. At the event, the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage conducted its triennial election, and Professor TIAN Fuqiang from the Department of Hydraulic Engineering at Tsinghua University was elected as the Vice Chairman of the committee.

Professor TIAN Fuqiang at the venue of the Visakhapatnam International Irrigation and Drainage Congress.

The International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage is the foremost international organization in the field of irrigation technology and applications worldwide. It is dedicated to promoting and achieving sustainable agricultural water resource management in the areas of irrigation, drainage, and flood control. With a member network that covers over 90% of the global irrigated area, the committee plays a crucial role in advancing irrigation practices. The commission has established prestigious awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award in Irrigation and Drainage and the Outstanding Contribution Award for Water Conservation Innovation. In collaboration with UNESCO and the World Water Council, it is responsible for selecting and managing the World Irrigation Engineering Heritage and World Water System Cultural Heritage.

Professor TIAN Fuqiang has dedicated his career to researching agricultural water resources and flood-drought management, achieving excellence in hydrological mechanisms, sustainable irrigation in arid areas, flood forecasting and warning, and transboundary river water resources. He serves as the Associate Editor for internationally authoritative journals in the field of hydrology, such as Hydrology and Earth System Sciences and Journal of Hydrology. Leading several major research programs funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology's National Key Research and Development Program, Professor Tian has received numerous awards for his contributions. These accolades include the Da Yu Water Conservancy Science and Technology Award, the Ministry of Education Natural Science First Prize, and the First Prize for Scientific and Technological Progress. Actively involved in the committee’s work since 2002, Professor Tian currently chairs the committee’s Bioenergy Working Group and serves as Vice Chair of the Climate Change Working Group. He has been honored with the Outstanding Contribution Award for Water Conservation Technology Innovation. His recent election as Vice Chair is expected to further promote innovation in irrigation and drainage technology and management in China, enhancing its international influence.