The Dutchman was speaking during the opening of the 2017 UIAA General Assembly, which was held in Iranian city Shiraz.

The strategic plan for 2017 to 2020, which was approved at last year’s General Assembly in Italian town Brixen, is focused on the UIAA’s three core pillars of safety, sport and sustainability.

"Looking at the achievements of the past year, I am proud of the progress we have made in terms of our strategic plan for 2017 to 2020," Vrijlandt said.

"Our global safety standards continue to prove their value to the climbing and mountaineering community; the UIAA’s work in sustainability continues to grow in international stature; and in sport our member federations are increasingly active in recreational climbing and mountaineering, and many in competitive climbing and mountaineering, including ice climbing and skyrunning."

UIAA vice-president Peter Farkas presented more specific details about the progress made during the first 12 months of the current four-year plan.

Among the objectives which have been met is "maintaining the highest level of standards in safety through continuous revision and development of new standards".

"Good governance in organisational aspects of rock climbing and ice climbing" and "innovation in promoting good practices in mountain sustainability" have also been achieved.

Delegates representing UIAA member associations on all six continents attended the annual meeting organised by the Iran Mountaineering and Sports Climbing Federation (IMSCF).

The UIAA General Assembly voted for the admission of Malta Climbing Club as a full member association, taking the total number to 92 from 69 countries.

Additionally, the UIAA confirmed India’s Amit Chowdhury will succeed the United States’ Dave Custer as President of its Safety Commission and that Portugal’s Carlos Teixeira has replaced Switzerland’s Urs Stôcker at the head of its Ice Climbing Commission.

A significant development in ice climbing saw the election of the US’ Kendra Stritch, Russia’s Nikolai Primorev, and Canada’s Gordon McArthur to the Ice Climbing Commission.

All three are current ice climbers with the UIAA, claiming their involvement in the Commission demonstrates its desire for athletes to have an even stronger voice in the future of the sport.

Other voting matters included approval for the support of Alpinism as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage.

Canada’s Peter Muir was re-elected as the continental representative for North America in the UIAA Management Committee and New Zealand’s Stuart Gray for Oceania.

Franz Stämpfli, Dennis Poncelin and Marco del Zotto were elected as members of the UIAA Court.

Furthermore, the Mount Everest Biogas Project (MEBP) was announced as the overall winner of the 2017 UIAA Mountain Protection Award.

The US-based project is a volunteer-run, non-profit organisation that has designed an environmentally-sustainable solution to the impact of human waste on Mount Everest and other high-altitude locations.

The MEBP is the fifth winner of the annual award, joining projects from Ethiopia, France, Nepal and Tajikistan.

Since 2013, more than 80 projects from 37 countries have been showcased as part of the UIAA Mountain Protection Award platform.

"The UIAA Management Committee meetings and General Assembly provided excellent networking opportunities for all stakeholders," a UIAA statement reads.

"In particular, the UIAA Commission Presidents’ meeting offered the chance for delegates to discuss even closer cooperation and joint projects.

"Collaboration was also at the fore when the UAAA (Union of Asian Alpine Associations) held their continental meeting on the morning after the GA (General Assembly)."

The statement adds: "The UIAA thanks the Iran Mountaineering and Sport Climbing Federation for their excellent hospitality and hosting of the event. 

"Extra activities offered by the IMSCF included hiking and climbing tours which enabled delegates to spend time appreciating the natural beauty and wilderness of Iran."

The 2018 UIAA General Assembly is due to take place in Mongolia on October 6.