Beijing, 23 June 2026–A research delegation from Australia’s National Centre for Groundwater Research and Training (NCGRT) at Flinders University visited the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) for in-depth exchanges and discussions on soil and groundwater environmental management, climate adaptation, and international graduate education.

　　Chief Engineer Zhang Mengheng presided over the meeting and extended a warm welcome to the Australian guests. She underscored CRAES’s role as a national hub for environmental innovation and its strong commitment to global scientific partnerships and talent cultivation. Flinders University enjoys an outstanding international reputation in the fields of environmental science, hydrology, and groundwater research, and the two sides have broad scope for cooperation in areas such as the prevention and control of soil and groundwater pollution. Building on the sound foundation of cooperation established during the academic visit of the CRAES delegation to Flinders University in November 2025, Zhang expressed confidence that this exchange would serve as an opportunity to establish a long-term cooperation mechanism and to continue advancing multi-faceted cooperation, including joint research projects, mutual visits by young scholars, and the joint training of graduate students.

　　Professor Huade Guan of NCGRT expressed his appreciation for CRAES’s hospitality and praised China’s notable progress in environmental governance. He highlighted CRAES’s cutting-edge research platforms and extensive practical engineering experience as valuable assets for future bilateral projects. “This on-site engagement gives us a firsthand look at China’s latest advances in soil remediation and lake ecosystem restoration,” Guan said. “We hope it will serve as a bridge for sustained collaboration in both scientific discovery and student development.”

　　During the symposium, representatives from CRAES’s International Cooperation Center, Graduate School, and Institute of Soil and Groundwater Environment respectively introduced the Academy's progress in international cooperation, graduate education, and research on the prevention and control of soil and groundwater pollution. Three graduate students from the State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment and the Institute of Soil and Groundwater Environment each delivered thematic presentations on their respective research areas.

　　Prior to the symposium, the delegation toured the Comprehensive Experimental Center, the National Engineering Laboratory for Lake Pollution Control and Ecological Restoration, and the Exhibition Hall of Scientific and Technological Achievements. Relevant officials and staff from CRAES’s Graduate School, International Cooperation Center, and Institute of Soil and Groundwater Environment accompanied the delegation on the tour and took part in the symposium.