China makes further savings to water use

China has managed to greatly reduce water consumption per unit of GDP over the past five years, Li Guoying, minister of water resources said on Thursday.

China's water consumption per 10,000 yuan of GDP was 57.2 cubic meters last year, down by 28 percent on 2015, he told a news conference organized by the State Council Information Office.

In addition, water consumption per 10,000 yuan of industrial added value in 2020 fell to 32.9 cubic meters, a decrease of 39.6 percent on 2015, he added.

"With only 6 percent of the world's fresh water resources, China provides water for 20 percent of the world's population and contributes to 17 percent of the world's total economy," he said.