China has witnessed remarkable progress in water management over the past decade, achieving significant milestones in water resources conservation and enhancing flood and drought prevention measures, according to the Ministry of Water Resources.
Vice Minister Chen Min highlighted that total water use in China has been consistently kept below 610 billion cubic meters during this period. Additionally, water consumption per 10,000 yuan of gross domestic product (GDP) has decreased by 41.7%, while water consumption per 10,000 yuan of industrial added value has dropped by an impressive 55.1%.
Investment in water conservancy projects has also seen substantial growth. Over the last decade, the water supply capacity of newly added projects reached approximately 200 billion cubic meters, tripling the capacity of the previous decade. Moreover, newly irrigated farmland expanded by around 87 million mu (5.8 million hectares), bringing the total effective irrigated farmland to 1.055 billion mu (70 million hectares).
Chen emphasized that China’s enhanced flood control and drought resistance capabilities are a result of strengthened early warning systems and upgraded flood control infrastructure. These improvements have been pivotal in safeguarding communities against extreme weather events.
In rural areas, China has made significant strides in ensuring water security. Tap water accessibility in these regions has surged to 90%, providing millions of residents with reliable and clean water sources.
Looking forward, Chen assured that China will continue its commitment to all-around high-quality water management. This ongoing effort aims to ensure water security, which is vital for national development and modernization.
Reference(s):
China has made great progress in water conservation, use: official
cgtn.com
