June 25, 2008 Urumqi Mr. Zhao Zhongyi, Deputy Director General attended the International Syposium on Environment, Climate Change and Sustainable Development in Arid Region of Central Asia held in Urumqi, Xinjiang and delivered opening remarks to guests, researchers and scholars from Academic Institutes of China, Russia, countries in Central Asia. As an important activity of UNDP funded Water Governance Project, the international symposium was hosted by CICETE, UNDP and Xinjiang Branch of China 's Academy of Sciences and organized by Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, CAS. It promoted the academic exchanges and cooperation among the countries of Central Asia via theme presentation and discussion regarding regional environment, climate changes, etc. Vice Chairman of Xinjiang Autonomous Region and representative from Coca-Cola China Company - project partner attended the symposium.