Russian scientists join in water research pact

Taiwan and Russia have forged a cooperative memorandum on water resources management and related technological exchanges, the Water Resources Agency (WRA) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs reported yesterday.

Officials and specialists from Taiwan and Russia gathered in late May for the first Taiwan-Russia Water Resources Conference to exchange views on and experiences in hydrology, freshwater resource management and related technologies, WRA officials said.

The participants signed a cooperative memorandum upon the conclusion of the conference that Taiwan and Russia will engage in bilateral exchanges in water resources management and related technological fields on a regular basis, the water agency said in a statement.

The two sides also agreed that academics and specialists in the fields will visit each other's country, beginning with a visit to Taiwan by Russian scientific delegates to attend an international water-related technologies exposition to open Sept. 3, officials said.

In addition to the water conference, the 12-member Taiwanese delegation also attended an international hydrology exposition, the 6th International Trade Fair and Congress on Water Ecology and Technology, held in Moscow earlier this month.

According to the WRA, although Russia is no longer considered a superpower, the nation's continuing scientific expertise and research in water and ocean resources are renowned worldwide.

The Russian water researchers were reported by the agency to be interested in Taiwan's research in the same fields, particularly in the areas of deep-ocean research and industrial wastewater recycling research.