On June 13, 2012, Mr. Baimachilin, Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR) visited ITP at Lhasa. The visiting delegates were welcomed by ITP Director YAO Tandong. Prof. Yao briefed TAR Chairman on the academic research of the institute, including research background, achievement, and international cooperation since its establishment. After the presentation, Mr. Baimachilin was shown around the Lhasa campus, and introduced to the Lhasa branches of CAS Key laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes and Laboratory of Continental Collison and Plateau Uplift, as well as that of the Joint Laboratory of Alpine-cold Ecology and Biodiversity on the Tibetan Plateau.

Mr. Baimachilin praised ITP’s achievement in the past and approved its contribution as an essential scientific component to the sustainable development of TAR. He hoped research staff in ITP would devote some thinking to proper tackling geological hazards, so as to prevent and/or ameliorate the damages of natural hazards to Tibetans. He also encouraged ITP to strengthen collaborations with other research units in TAR, including Tibet University and TAR Academy of Agricultural Sciences.