On May 20th, Mr. Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources, attended the Ministerial Meeting of the 10th World Water Forum and delivered a speech.
Li Guoying pointed out that China’s special geographical and climatic conditions have resulted in an arduous task of water governance since ancient times. By implementing President Xi Jinping’s principles of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches and promoting government-market synergy” for water governance, China has ensured flood control safety, water supply security, food security, and ecological security, and has made significant progress in achieving the water-related goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. First, China is improving its flood control engineering system at basin scale, the rain and flood monitoring and forecasting system and disaster prevention system. Extreme flood and drought disasters have been overcome and lives and properties are protected to the maximum extent. Second, China is developing the National Water Network and increasing the ability to optimize the allocation of water resources. The country’s water facilities now boast a supply capacity of over 900 billion cubic meters with 90% percent of rural residents now having access to tap water and 55% of farmland being irrigated. Third, China is implementing the Mother River Recovery Action to curb groundwater overextraction and soil erosion. Rivers have come back to life, and river basins have regained vitality. Fourth, China is building digital twin water projects and providing support for informed, efficient, accurate and safe decision-making for water governance and administration. Fifth, China is establishing and improving water-saving policies. Over the past decade, China has managed to stabilize its water consumption below 610 billion cubic meters despite its GDP nearly doubled. Sixth, China is strengthening institutions, mechanisms and legal systems. China has rolled out the river/lake-chief system and improved the legal framework for water, strengthened the unified governance and management of river basins, and continued to improve the capacity and level of water management.
Li Guoying emphasized that as challenges to global water security intensify, there is an urgent need for countries to strengthen cooperation and joint hands to contribute wisdom and strength to global water governance. Under the guidance of the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative, Ministry of Water Resources of China is willing to further deepen exchanges and dialogue on water policy with other countries, share experience in water governance, carry out practical cooperation, and continue to contribute ideas, solutions and strengths in order to reach the water-related goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Mr. Loic Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, ministers and high-level officials of water authorities from various countries, as well as leaders of international and regional organizations such as UNESCO and UNECE, attended the meeting.
Source: INTCE