Less than a year ago, what began as a promising dialogue between the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES [1]) has grown into a strategic partnership built on shared ambition, scientific priorities, and broader cooperation. Whilst ICIMOD’s focus is working with mountains and people to make the Hindu Kush Himalaya (HKH) region greener, more inclusive and climate resilient, the mission of CRAES is to advance environmental science and provide policy guidance to support sustainable development, environmental protection, and climate resilience both within China and internationally.
This blog reflects on the key milestones that brought us here.
Opening dialogue: consultation in Beijing
In September 2024, a delegation led by the Director General of ICIMOD, Pema Gyamtsho, visited Beijing as part of a high-level mission to strengthen partnerships on environmental issues– particularly in the areas of climate change, air pollution control, and biodiversity conservation. He visited the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences (CRAES) – National Environmental Policy Research Institute under the Ministry of Environment and Ecology, China.
[2]Quan Zhanjun, the Vice President of CRAES, and his team hosted a meeting with ICIMOD’s team members to explore potential collaboration on atmospheric science, environmental policy, and regional and international cooperation. Both the CRAES and ICIMOD teams agreed to explore formalising the collaboration through a strategic partnership, with Pema Gyamtsho inviting CRAES to visit ICIMOD Headquarters in Kathmandu, Nepal.
[3]Before the meeting, the ICIMOD team also visited CRAES’s Air Pollution Monitoring Centre for Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei, along with the State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment (SKLECRA [4]), China. This centre showcases CRAES’s work to study air pollution through field measurements, lab research, and modelling.
These initial discussions revealed shared priorities – air quality, biodiversity, and regional environmental monitoring – all core areas of ICIMOD’s work identified in our Strategy 2030 – Moving Mountains [5].
Reconnecting at COP16 – aligning global and regional goals
In October 2024, a five-member ICIMOD delegation attended the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16) and the fifth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI), in Cali, Colombia.
[6]While attending COP16, ICIMOD and CRAES met again – this time building on the foundation laid in Beijing. The ICIMOD delegation held discussions with Quan Zhanjun, the Vice President of CRAES, and his team, reaffirming a strong mutual intent to turn a shared vision into concrete action. More than a formal exchange, the meeting in Cali offered an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate each other’s work and contributions to environmental science, and policy.
From dialogue to depth – CRAES visit to ICIMOD
After initial meetings in Beijing and at COP16, momentum continued to build. A high-level CRAES delegation, led by Xue Jie, Director of the International Cooperation Center, visited ICIMOD’s headquarters from 8–12 April 2025 for in-depth technical exchanges. This included exploring potential joint projects such as data sharing, joint studies, early warning systems, capacity building, and expert exchanges, especially regarding air pollution control.
[7]During the visit, the CRAES team held productive working sessions with ICIMOD’s three Strategic Groups [8] – Climate and Environmental Risks, Resilient Economies and Landscapes, and Regional Action and Global Advocacy. Each Action Area dedicated half a day to engaging with the expert groups to deepen mutual understanding, address questions through interactive discussions, and define the key focus areas for upcoming collaboration.
The discussions focused on ICIMOD’s work in the HKH, particularly on transboundary issues including air pollution, and mountain ecosystems. Both parties agreed to jointly establish a comprehensive cooperation framework, including the transfer of air pollution control technologies, regional environmental flagship reports, and expert secondments and placements. They also committed to strengthening discussions and collaboration on regional cooperation mechanisms within the multilateral convention framework.
[9]A highlight of the cooperation was the formal handover of an air quality observation instrument from CRAES to ICIMOD. Now integrated into ICIMOD’s regional monitoring network, the device underscores the shared commitment to evidence-based environmental action and will provide essential data to support air pollution control efforts across South Asia.
The visit also set the stage for future collaboration, with plans for expert exchanges and joint research initiatives to be developed under the forthcoming Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
Formalising the partnership – MoU signing in Kunming
Two weeks after the in-depth technical exchange in Kathmandu, ICIMOD and CRAES took a significant step forward in their partnership by signing an MoU on 23 April 2025, during the ICIMOD–China Partners' Day in Kunming [10], southwest China.
[11]The MoU was signed by ICIMOD’s Director General, Pema Gyamtsho and Quan Zhanjun, the Vice President of CRAES. The MoU signing ceremony was attended by a distinguished group of ICIMOD’s key stakeholders, including Board members, government representatives from ICIMOD’s Regional Member Countries (RMCs) – including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan, and prominent Chinese institutional partners.
This MoU cements a shared commitment to tackling regional environmental challenges through joint research, expert exchanges, and co-hosted platforms. It also sets the stage for deeper collaboration on clean air initiatives, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience in the HKH region.
For ICIMOD, this agreement represents a key milestone in strengthening regional ties with China, enhancing scientific networks, and fostering action-oriented partnerships that generate real, impactful outcomes where they are most needed.
[12]At the event, Gao Jian, Deputy Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Environment of CRAES also delivered a presentation that shared China’s approaches to air pollution control, showcasing its integrated efforts across policy, science, and cross-sector coordination – offering valuable insights for regional adaptation.
Partnership for the mountains and people
Looking ahead, the ICIMOD–CRAES partnership embodies a shared vision for addressing global environmental challenges and is set to become a model for cross-border scientific cooperation within ICIMOD’s RMCs. As environmental issues transcend borders, so too must our solutions.
This partnership strengthens our ongoing efforts across the region, including new collaborations with Chinese institutions, and reinforces our commitment to science-driven action for cleaner air and a more resilient mountain environment.
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