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Read in Chinese

Speakers:

Mr. Chen Min, vice minister of water resources

Mr. Wu Wenqing, chief planner of the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR)

Mr. Yu Qiyang, director general of the Department of Water Resources Management of the MWR

Mr. Chen Mingzhong, director general of the Department of Rural Water and Hydropower of the MWR

Chairperson:

Ms. Shou Xiaoli, director general of the Press Bureau of the State Council Information Office (SCIO) and spokesperson of the SCIO

Date:

June 18, 2024

Shou Xiaoli:

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Welcome to this press conference held by the State Council Information Office (SCIO), as part of the series "Promoting High-Quality Development." Today, we have invited Mr. Chen Min, vice minister of water resources, to brief you on relevant developments and to take your questions. Also present today are Mr. Wu Wenqing, chief planner of the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR); Mr. Yu Qiyang, director general of the Department of Water Resources Management of the MWR; and Mr. Chen Mingzhong, director general of the Department of Rural Water and Hydropower of the MWR. 

Now, I'll give the floor to Mr. Chen for his introduction. 

Chen Min:

Ladies and gentlemen, first of all, I would like to express my gratitude to the friends from the media and people of all walks of life for your long-term interest in and support for China's water conservancy undertakings. 

General Secretary Xi Jinping pointed out that to promote Chinese modernization, it is essential to consider water resources issues, and water conservancy modernization is an integral part of Chinese modernization. Water conservancy is a fundamental support and vital driving force for achieving high-quality development. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), General Secretary Xi Jinping, with a strategic vision of ensuring the sustainable development of the Chinese nation, has proposed the water management strategy of "prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches, and giving full play to the roles of both government and market." In this way, a national "river strategy" has been formulated, drawing a grand blueprint for the country's water network. Thoroughly implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping's water management strategy and the guiding principles of his important discourses in this regard, the MWR has coordinated high-quality development with high-level security and protection, and taken a holistic approach to the management of water-related disasters, water resources, water ecology and water environment. The MWR has committed itself to deepening water conservancy reform, aiming to enhance the intrinsic motivation for high-quality development. We have constantly improved the capacities for flood and drought prevention, efficient and intensive use of water resources, optimal allocation of water resources, and ecological conservation of rivers and lakes. These reforms have been consistently integrated into our work, effectively ensuring China's security in terms of flood prevention, water supply, food and ecology. 

We have continued to put people first to ensure the utmost protection of people's lives and property. We have accelerated the improvement of the river basin flood prevention project system, rainwater monitoring and forecasting system, and flood and drought prevention system. As a result, China's overall capacity for flood and drought prevention has significantly increased, with flood losses as a percentage of GDP falling from 0.51% in the previous decade to 0.24%. In the past three years, we have successfully managed several major historic floods, including the worst autumn flood along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River since the founding the People's Republic of China, the "23-7" super large flood in the Haihe River Basin, and the worst flooding of the Beijiang River in the Pearl River Basin since 1915. These efforts have ensured peace for the people and social stability by maintaining the tranquility of rivers and lakes.

We have prioritized water conservation to enhance the capacity for efficient and intensive use of water resources. We have conducted the national water conservation campaign and refined related systems and polices, tightening rigid constraints on water resources. Over the past decade, while nearly doubling the GDP, China has achieved zero growth in total water consumption, maintaining it below 610 billion cubic meters. Our water consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP and per 10,000 yuan of industrial value added have decreased by 41.7% and 55.1%, respectively. Notably, the water use efficiency of agriculture, the largest water consumer, has continuously improved, with the average water consumption per mu (around 0.07 hectare) of irrigated farmland falling to below 350 cubic meters, a reduction of nearly 13% compared with 10 years ago. As a result, the irrigated area and grain production have steadily increased while water consumption has remained stable. 

We have adhered to the principle of balancing spatial distribution to promote comprehensive improvement of water resources allocation. Focusing on networking, supplementation and chain enhancement, we have advanced the implementation of national key water network projects, as represented by the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. We have coordinated the high-quality development between regional water networks and provincial, municipal and county-level water networks, substantially intensifying the water resource support for the implementation of national strategies. Over the past decade, the newly added water supply capacity of water conservancy projects nationwide has reached around 200 billion cubic meters, three times that of the previous decade. Additionally, the irrigated farmland area has expanded by about 87 million mu, bringing the total area of effectively irrigated farmland to 1.06 billion mu. Tap water coverage in rural areas has reached 90%. 

We have always taken systematic approaches to maintaining the health and vitality of rivers and lakes to higher standards. We have emphasized harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, and continuously taken a holistic and systematic approach to the protection and conservation of mountain, water, forest, farmland, grassland and desert ecosystems. The river chief and lake chief systems have been fully established, with 1.2 million river and lake chiefs at the provincial, municipal, county, township and village levels performing their duties. We have launched a mother river revival initiative, resulting in continuous water flow along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal for three consecutive years after a century of interruption. Beijing's mother river, the Yongding River, has seen year-round water flow throughout its entire course after 26 years of interruption. The groundwater levels in the over-extracted areas of north China have significantly risen. Over the past decade, we have managed soil erosion across 620,000 square kilometers. As a result, more rivers and lakes are experiencing increased water volumes, improved water quality and more beautiful landscapes.

We have adhered to the principle of leveraging both government and market roles, making integrated efforts to ensure law-based management systems and mechanisms for water resources. We have promulgated and implemented the Yangtze River Protection Law and the Yellow River Protection Law, as well as regulations for managing groundwater and conserving water. Moreover, we have ensured the implementation of two mechanisms: one for coordinating water resources administrative law enforcement and criminal justice and another for cooperation between water resources law enforcement and procuratorial public interest litigation. Intensified efforts have been made to enhance the overall planning, improvement, distribution, and management of river basins. We have deepened reforms of market-based trading of water use rights, water pricing, and water conservancy investment and financing systems. Moreover, an ecological product value conversion deal for soil and water conservation was signed in Anji county, Zhejiang province. China's first carbon sink trade agreement for soil and water conservation projects was signed in Changting county, Fujian province. Additionally, Sichuan province and Ningxia Hui autonomous region completed China's first cross-provincial water use rights transaction. A water conservancy investment and financing mechanism has taken shape, combining fiscal funds, government bonds, financial credit, and private capital. Investment in water conservancy facilities nationwide has surpassed 1 trillion yuan for two consecutive years.

Historic achievements and transformative changes in China's water resources management have proved that General Secretary 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, pursued inclusive development for both humanity and the world, and carried both Chinese characteristics and global significance. The Chinese and English versions of "Water Governance in China – Perspectives of Xi Jinping" have elicited a positive response since their publication, contributing Chinese wisdom and solutions to address global water security challenges. 

In a new era and on a new journey, the MWR will further implement the guiding principles of the 20th CPC National Congress, and resolutely practice General Secretary Xi Jinping's water governance perspectives and important expositions on water governance. Our focus is on advancing high-quality development in the water sector and enhancing the ability to safeguard water security for building a great modern socialist country in all respects and achieving national rejuvenation through the Chinese path to modernization. 

That's all for my introduction. I will now answer questions from journalists. Thank you.