On March 21, H.E. Mr. Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources, attended and addressed to the 9th High Level Dialogue Conference of the China-Europe Water Platform (CEWP). The Conference was held at the office of the EU Delegation to the United Nations in New York, USA.

Minister Li pointed out that this Conference coincides with  the 10th anniversary of CEWP and  the United Nations 2023 Water Conference, with the aim of bridging a fruituful past and promising future.

Minister Li noted that as the impact of global climate change intensifies and the situation of water security becomes increasingly severe, achieving water-related goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has become a shared pressing mission for humanity. He put forward three suggestions for future China-Europe water exchanges and cooperation. First, deepen policy exchanges and cooperation on water governance. China will firmly practice President Xi Jinping’s water governance thought of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches, and giving full play to the roles of both government and market”, and promote high-quality development of water sector in the new era. Efforts are being made to upgrade the capacities to defend against flood and drought disasters, conserve and intensively utilize water resources, optimize water allocation, and protect and manage the ecology of rivers and lakes. China stands ready to deepen water governance policy exchanges with  in the fields of climate change, flood defense and disaster reduction, conservation and intensive utilization of water resources, governance and protection of the water ecology and water environment and river basin systematic governance, so as to promote more fruitful dialogue and cooperation. Second, strengthen technical exchanges and cooperation on water governance. China is committed to realizing the important supporting role of advanced and applicable technologies in ensuring water security, by means of upgrading the level of digitalization, networking and intelligence in water sector. The Chinese side is willing to broaden technical exchanges, mutual visits, talent training and cooperative researches on water resources with the European side. In particular, China hopes to strengthen technical cooperation in the spheres of adaptation to extreme weather, ecological restoration and protection of rivers and lakes, efficient recycling and utilization of water resources, basic research, monitoring and replenishment of groundwater, application of digital twin technologies in water sector, among others. Third, join hands to promote the achievement of water-related goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. China would like to work with Europe to better realize the leading role of China-Europe water partnership in global water governance cooperation.

Minister Li highlighted that under the guidance of the Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative, China and Europe will continuously develop and improve CEWP,and jointly seek transformative measures to make more contributions to tackling the global water challenges.

This Conference is themed on “CEWP contribution to the 2030 Agenda and its water-related goals”. H.E. Madam Dubravka SUICA, VicePresident of European Commission, and senior officials from relevant EU member countries delivered speeches. A joint declaration was signed by the attendees.