The 81st Annual Conference of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) was held in Seattle, USA, from August 12 to 16. More than 1,100 hydropower experts and delegates from over 60 counties all over the world participated in the event. A delegation from HYDROCHINA, a POWERCHINA subsidiary, attended the conference and the technical visit afterwards.

The theme of the conference was "Changing Times: Infrastructure Development to Infrastructure Management." The HYDRCOCHINA delegation attended the 81st Executive Conference, seminars, and the session of the Special Committee on the Joint Operation of Hydropower Stations and Reservoirs. Zhou Jianping, vice-president and chief engineer of HYDROCHINA and the director of the National Hydropower Technology Research and Development Center, delivered a keynote speech on the topic "Roles of Dams & Hydro as Renewable Energy in China," providing a clear and comprehensive landscape of the important role of hydropower in the social and economic development of China and the splendid achievements of China in hydropower development and dam construction. The speech was highly-recognized and warmly received by the audience.