Global meeting paves new path to address water issues

The Third Asia International Water Week, which concluded in Beijing on Thursday, has paved the way for deeper cooperation aimed at addressing Asian and global water problems in the future, said officials.

Li Liangsheng, vice-minister of China's Ministry of Water Resources, said that representatives from different countries put forward constructive solutions for severe water issues facing Asia and the world during the four-day event.?

The event consolidated a lot of consensus on the next steps for global collaboration and provided a new opportunity for regional and global cooperation in the field of water resources in the future, he said during a news conference on Thursday.

The Asia International Water Week is a triennial gathering for officials and experts to seek tangible implementation for resolving Asian water problems.

This year, the event was jointly held by China's Ministry of Water Resources and the Asia Water Council. Nearly 1,300 personnel from government departments, research institutes, universities, water-related enterprises and international organizations participated in the event, including about 600 foreign representatives.?

Duan Hong, secretary-general of the Chinese Hydraulic Engineering Society, said that during the event, the Beijing Declaration — a document that urges global cooperation to tackle water problems caused by climate change, accelerated urbanization and population growth — had been signed.?

Efforts had also been made to advance compilation of a report on water-related innovations and technologies led by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, he said.

Duan added that the event saw the signing of over ten bilateral or multilateral cooperation agreements. A number of Chinese institutes also signed cooperation memorandums, technical contracts and cooperation agreements with foreign countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea.

"This has laid a solid foundation for promoting high-quality construction of China's Belt and Road Initiative and facilitating water-related cooperation between China and various Asian countries, and even globally," he said.