Two mobilisation workshops were held in Suzhou and Wuxi City – two pilots cities of Lake Tai Water Pollution Treatment Project from 15th to 18th December 2008 with the purpose of introducing the implementation activities of the Lake Tai Water Pollution Treatment Project, and to arrange tasks of the relevant agencies. The Workshops were jointly organised and run by the International Cooperation Centre, the National Development and Reform Commission, and ACEDP’s PCO.

The local Development and Reform Commissions (DRCs) and Environment Protection Bureaus participated in the workshops and expressed their interest and willingness of being involved in the Project. The two workshops held discussions on the implementation of the Project as well as how the activities will meet the long-term and emergency needs of the local area. During the four days it was determined that Suzhou and Wuxi DRCs will be the leading agencies at the local level for this Project, with tasks clearly allocated to relevant agencies and focal points nominated. The Project’s leading group members of the two cities, which is supposed to supply overall high-level guidance to the Project will be nominated after discussion with the municipal governments.

The workshops were an approved requisite for the Project’s implementation in order to ensure common understanding of the Project’s activities and unambiguous responsibility distribution.