A delegation led by ZHANG Jin, director of the East Lake Scenic Area Management Committee, visited the Guanqiao Campus of the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. (Credit: IHB)

On the morning of 29 July, 2026, a delegation led by ZHANG Jin, director of the East Lake Scenic Area Management Committee, visited the Guanqiao Campus of the Institute of Hydrobiology (IHB) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The visit focused on strengthening collaboration between the institute and the local administration in areas including Yangtze River conservation, scientific innovation, integrated ecological and cultural tourism, and national-level research platform development.

The symposium was chaired by IHB deputy director XU Jun. IHB deputy director LIANG Qiong expressed appreciation for the Scenic Area’s long-term support for IHB’s research, and raised specific requests for local coordination and assistance concerning the development of a national porpoise conservation platform, renovation and upgrading of the Guanqiao Campus, aquatic environment research, and tanslation of research outcomes.

ZHANG Jin noted that IHB is a key player in building Wuhan’s national innovation center, and stressed that the district must provide comprehensive and whole-process support for the institute’s research activities. He called for interdepartmental coordination to implement supporting policies that facilitate research.

ZHANG further emphasized the importance of expediting the establishment of the national Yangtze finless porpoise conservation research center, and urged strengthened collaboration with IHB in promoting the translation of research outcomes and leveraging the institute’s expertise in fish biological resources.

He also proposed joint efforts in cyanobacteria control and water restoration across East Lake, aiming to build a healthy aquatic ecosystem, and called for a regular communication mechanism to address issues in a timely manner.