New water projects planned in Xinjiang

The Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region will speed up the construction of major water conservation projects in the vast area to increase and better allocate water resources and provide a boost to economic development, said local officials and experts.

"Xinjiang has been experiencing a serious shortage of water resources which have been overstretched and are in need of better management," said Li Gengsheng, head of the regional Water Resources Bureau.

The region plans to launch three major water conservation projects along seasonal rivers in southern Xinjiang this year to increase and better regulate water supply for industrial and agricultural use, and help reduce flood risks, Li said.