On May 21^st, Mr. Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources,  attended the 4^th Global Water Security High Level Seminar and the launching ceremony of Water Governance in China – Perspectives of Xi Jinping. Li Guoying made a key presentation and unveiled the book with Mr. Loic Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, and Mr. Zhang Zhisheng, Chinese Consul General in Denpasar,  Indonesia.

Li Guoying pointed out that the water security landscape across the globe has undergone significant transformations, giving rise to increasingly prominent global challenges. This has prompted all nations to invest robust efforts in addressing these issues. China is confronted with enormous challenges, including extensive national development needs, complex national and water situations, and formidable obstacles in river governance. In light of these circumstances, there is an urgent need for comprehensive, science-based, and systematic solutions to address a series of critical questions that hold immense significance for today’s world. These questions revolve around the necessity of water governance, the goals that should be pursued, and the approach and methods. President Xi Jinping has a deep understanding of China’s national and water situations. He has examined historical experiences, evaluated China’s water governance practices, and comprehended the underlying principles governing nature, the economy, and society. From a strategic perspective and aiming for sustainable development for the Chinese nation, he has proposed the water governance principles of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches and promoting government-market synergy”. Raising new concepts, ideas, and strategies for water governance, he has introduced a range of groundbreaking and strategic measures that have resulted in historic achievements, transformative changes and substantial improvements in China’s water governance.

Li Guoying noted that guided by President Xi Jinping’s water governance perspectives, China’s water governance practices are mainly reflected in the fields of adering to water governance for peace of the country and prosperity of the people, guarding against threats to water security, insisting on the water governance principles of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches and promoting government-market synergy”, accelerating the establishment of a national water network, implementing the National River Strategy, and preserving and promoting Chinese water culture.

Li Guoying stressed that President Xi Jinping’s water governance perspectives represent a correct approach to water governance that has led to significant achievements in China’s practices. They have contributed to China’s growing strengths, promoted the country’s national rejuvenation, integrated Chinese philosophy and wisdom, and pursued inclusive development for both humanity and the world. China has achieved historic successes and undergone transformative improvements in its ability to prevent floods and droughts, to save, optimally allocate, and make efficient use of water resources, and to protect and manage river and lake ecosystems. Despite having only 6 percent of the world’s freshwater resources, China successfully ensures food and water security for nearly 20 percent of the global population and contributes to more than 18 percent of the world’s economic output, making substantial progress in achieving the water-related goals of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Guided by President Xi’s water governance principles and perspectives, China has full confidence and possesses the necessary capabilities to effectively address severe challenges to water security. Ministry of Water Resources of China stands ready to continue to collaborate with all countries and international organizations, aiming to effectively tackle global water security challenges and foster a global community of shared future.

In speeches, discussions, bilateral meetings or interviews, Mr. Loic Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, Mr. Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Public Works and Housing of Indonesia, Mr. Nizar Baraka, Minister of Equipment and Water of Morocco, Mr. Abdelmonem Belati, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries of Tunisia, Dr. Abdulaziz M. Alshaibani, Deputy Minister for Water, Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia, and officials and experts from participating countries and international organizations all expressed that the book shares China’s leading water governance ideas, policies and practices, providing a systematic and abundant content for further understanding and research on President Xi Jinping’s water governance perspectives. They believed that the global water security challenges are severe, and there is an urgent need to develop scientific measures and take practical actions. The water governance principles of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches and promoting government-market synergy” are applicable in many countries and regions around the world. Many profound thinkings of President Xi Jinping on water governance in the book can become a source of inspiration for other countries and regions in water governance. The publication indicates that China prioritizes water governance and has created fruitful results through a series of practical efforts, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to address global water security challenges and achieve the water-related UN’s 2030 SDGs. This further demonstrates that China’s firm commitment to promoting global water security and building a community with a shared future for mankind. It is imperative for every country to deeply think about water management plans and systematically summarize water governance experience. Eventually, they anticipated to learn from China’s water governance experience through this book, and hoped that this book can be promoted to more countries and regions to inspire the international community to take strong and effective measures to tackle global water security challenges.

Water Governance in China–Perspectives of Xi Jinping was written by Ministry of Water Resources, and its English version was translated and published by China Foreign Language Press.

Source: INTCE