With the theme of “Enhancing Our Future Water Security”, the 3rd Asia International Water Week commenced in Beijing on September 24, to jointly discuss effective water governance strategies and commonly tackle water security challenges. Mr. Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. Mr. Li Guoying and Mr. Seogdae Yun, President of the Asia Water Council, jointly signed "Beijing Declaration -- Asia to World Statement of the Third Asia International Water Week." Mr. Li Liangsheng, Vice Minister of Water Resources, presided over the opening ceremony.
Li Guoying pointed out that developing water conservancy and mitigating water-related disasters have always been priorities of state governance throughout history in China and across the world. In the future, as the impact of climate change intensifies, water security risk is increasingly becoming a global challenge, and countries all over the world are actively seeking for water governance ideas and solutions that can be used for reference. The principles of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches and promoting government-market synergy” proposed by President Xi Jinping is an effective approach for water governance that has been tested through practices and achieved great outcomes in China, and is full of Chinese philosophies and wisdoms, and seeks progress for humanity and unity for the world.
Based on China’s water governance practices and experience, Li Guoying put forward four proposals. Firstly, efforts are spared to jointly promote idea innovation, adhere to President Xi Jinping’s water governance principles so as to guide the development of water strategies and policies. Secondly, endeavors are made to synergistically push forward management innovation, advance the improvement of water infrastructure system, in order to realize universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all. Thirdly, efforts are made to collaboratively step up scientific and technological innovation, strengthen research on water-related issues, and accelerate the development of digital-twin water conservancy and improve the digital, networked and intelligent capabilities of water management. Fourthly, endeavors are committed to promote cooperation innovation, give full play to the role of exchange platforms including the Asia Water Council and Asia International Water Week, to intensify knowledge exchange, project cooperation, personnel training and capacity building.
At the opening ceremony, Mr. Seogdae Yun, President of the Asia Water Council, Mr. Loic Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, Mr. Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN Resident Coordinator in China, Mr. Basuki Hadimoeljono, Minister of Public Works and Housing of Indonesia, Mr. Marcos da Cruz, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry of Timor-Leste and other distinguished guests delivered speeches successively. They all fully agreed on China’s water governance approaches, spoke highly of China’s achievements and experience in guaranteeing water security, and called on all the Asian countries to continuously enhance water cooperation, jointly improve water governance capacity and address water challenges.
Initiated by the Asia Water Council, the Asia International Water Week is convened every three years. This conference is jointly hosted by Ministry of Water Resources of China and the Asia Water Council. Nearly 1300 people from 68 countries, over 20 international organizations and water related institutions attended the conference.
Source: INTCE