China and WWC works together to address water issues

By Liang Chao (Chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-07-23 09:04

The Ministry of Water Resources and the World Water Council (WWC) signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation on Wednesday in Beijing to work together in response to the global water issues. The MOU also promised further cooperation on international key conferences, water events, policy researches and capability building between the two.

WWC, created by a number of key water institutions in 1996 with its headquarteres in Marseille, France, unites over 300 member organizations from more than 60 countries.

It is an international multi-stakeholder platform “to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels” and encourages debates and exchanges of experience of related issues throughout the world.

World Water Forums which WWC holds once every three years has become the largest of arena of its kind aimed at addressing the planet’s problems of water scarcity, the risk of conflict as countries squabble over rivers, lakes and aquifers, and how to provide clean water and sanitation to billions.

Addressing a ceremony for the MOU, water resources minister Chen Lei said that the forum’s ministerial conference has become an key platform for governments throughout the world to dialogue and exchange experiences on water events.

China has, since 2003, taken part in the forum.

“It has strong impact on shaping up and developing the water polices and strategies in countries throughout the world,” he said, “China will help push forward the UN’s Millennium Development Goals in water and sanitation early in cooperation with WWC.”

Loic Fauchon, president of the WWC, said he welcomes China to “the WWC family,” with further cooperation between the two promoted to tackle water issues facing the world today.

China will play an irreplaceable role in pushing on the world’s cooperation and exchange of experiences in the field, he said.

Many countries particularly the developing countries have admired China for her achievements of mitigating water-led disasters, improving drinking water security, irrigated farming and water-saving technologies, he said.