On the afternoon of October 18, a high-level delegation from Tribhuvan University (TU) in Nepal visited the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) at the invitation of Prof. BAO Qing, co-lead of the ANSO MISSPAD project. The delegation included Prof. Shiva Lal Bhusal, Rector of TU, Prof. Bir Bahadur Khanal Chhetri, Dean of the Institute of Forestry (IOF)-TU, Prof. Bishnu Prasad Khanal, Executive Director of Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate (MED)-TU, Prof. Deepak Aryal, Academician of the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology and also Head of the Central Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (CDHM)-TU, and Associate Prof. Binod Dawadi, Deputy Director of Kathmandu Center for Research and Education (KCRE)-CAS.

This visit aimed to facilitate in-depth discussions regarding the substantive exchanges and collaborations between the two sides, and further promote progress in the ANSO MISSPAD project. The symposium was held at the main campus of IAP. They agreed to cooperate in scientific research and application of disaster prevention and mitigation based on ANSO MISSPAD’s weather and climate model as well as advanced technologies and to strengthen personnel exchanges and communication further.

The representatives from TU emphasized the intricate terrain of Nepal and its surrounding regions, along with the challenges posed by meteorological disasters. They articulated their urgent need for high-resolution climate models and downscaling technologies. The delegation put forward specific demands and recommendations for collaboration, looking forward to achieving substantial breakthroughs within the framework of the ANSO MISSPAD project.

Prof. LU Riyu, Duty Director of IAP, and Prof. WU Guoxiong, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and Chair of the Academic Committee of State Key Laboratory of Numerical Modeling for Atmospheric Sciences and Geophysical Fluid Dynamics (LASG), IAP-CAS, warmly welcomed the arrival of the delegation and expressed support and confidence in future collaboration. Besides, Prof. BAO Qing introduced the progress of MISSPAD, and pointed out that under the financial support of the ANSO project, several students from TU have already come to IAP for academic exchanges, strengthening the foundation of cooperation between the two sides; in the future, building on MISSPAD’s extensive computing resources and advanced global climate model, both parties can actively engage in prevention and mitigation of natural disasters in the field of meteorology and hydrology.

Notably, three international students of IAP from Nepal, Nepal Bikash, Lamichhane Dipendra, and Gayetri Prasad Adhikari, also participated in the meeting.

Since January 2020, the Alliance of International Science Organizations in the Belt and Road Region (ANSO) launched the Multi-model-Integrated Subseasonal-to-Seasonal Prediction and Application in Disaster Risk Reduction (MISSPAD) project. This project focuses on sharing and applying China’s mature subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) weather and climate predictions in countries along the “Belt and Road” with a primary focus on the regions of Central Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. By closely collaborating with relevant national agencies and research departments, the project aims to enhance meteorological disaster preparedness in these countries, safeguarding lives and property, food security, environmental health, and socio-economic stability, thus promoting sustainable development in this region.

With the 10th anniversary of the "Belt and Road" initiative and the convening of the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), to achieve green and low-carbon development and to build a clean and beautiful world have emerged as new themes and opportunities for high-quality development in the "Belt and Road" region. MISSPAD team is committed to providing scientific and technological support for medium- and long-term weather and climate forecasts and disaster risk reduction, which is an important field of international cooperation in the "Belt and Road" region. The team contributes scientific and technological strength to the sustainable development of the region and the sustained global response to climate change.

Group photo