The ongoing 28th International Commission on Large Dams Congress and 93rd Annual Meeting in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, are expected to be the largest-ever gathering of the almost 100-year-old organization.

"Up to now, it will be the most well-attended conference," Michel Lino, president of the commission, said at a news conference on Monday.

Over 2,000 people are participating in the conference, with nearly half from other countries. "From this point of view, it's a great event," he said.

The commission, established in 1928 and often referred to as ICOLD, is a non-governmental international organization that provides a forum for the exchange of knowledge and experience in dam engineering.

Held every three years, the ICOLD Congress is the most professional and influential academic conference in the international dam society.

Jointly hosted by China's Ministry of Water Resources, Sichuan provincial government, and ICOLD, the 28th ICOLD Congress & 93rd Annual Meeting started on Thursday and will last until Friday under the theme of "Common Challenges, Shared Future, Better Dams".