Wageningen University and Research Centre has opend a Representation Office in Beijing, the capital city of the People's Republic of China. The office, staffed by a Chinese graduate and a PhD student from Wageningen University, will initially focus on solving environmental problems, one of the major challenges faced by China during the decades to come. The contact with the Representation Office will proceed via Alterra, the Wageningen UR research institute for our green living environment.
In recent years Wageningen UR has developed contacts with China in many fields and has also completed a number of successful research projects. Several hundred Chinese students, including PhD students, are currently studying at Wageningen University.
Rapid economic growth has caused enormous environmental pressure in China. This is why the country has focused a great deal of attention on the alleviation of environmental problems in its current Five Year Plan. Wageningen UR believes that it can effectively share its expertise and experience in natural habitats and the environment and enter into cooperation with China via the Representation Office. As a result, it can provide tailor-made solutions for problems with nature and the environment in China. This is also the expertise domain of Alterra.
Wageningen UR wants to determine if the existing contacts with China can be intensified and improved through the new office in China. If this approach is successful, Wageningen UR will consider opening Representation Offices for other areas of expertise.
The new office of Wageningen UR in China will be located at SEPA, the State Environmental Protection Administration. SEPA has a status in China comparable to a ministry of the environment; it reports directly to the State Council. The staff members of the Representation Office of Wageningen UR are Ms Zhang Tiehan, a graduate of Wageningen University, and Mr Wang Guoqing, who is conducting his PhD research partly under the supervision of Wageningen University.