From Mahnoor Makhdoom
Nanjing: China has achieved historic progress in river protection and water governance as it advances a comprehensive river strategy centered on the principle of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, according to a think tank report released on Friday at the Yangtze Culture Forum in Nanjing city of Jiangsu Province in China.
The report, titled “Harnessing Rivers for National Prosperity, Public Wellbeing — A Study on the New Era River Strategy,” was jointly issued by the National High-Level Think Tank of Xinhua News Agency and the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research under the Ministry of Water Resources.
According to the study, China’s sweeping improvements in river management have strengthened the country’s ability to control floods, secure water supplies, safeguard food production, and maintain ecological stability. These achievements, the report said, have laid a stronger foundation for the nation’s high-quality economic and social development.
The report reflects China’s commitment to the principle of prioritizing water conservation, noting that the country has fully implemented a national water-saving initiative and imposed stringent constraints on water-resource use. These reforms have accelerated the shift away from extensive, inefficient water consumption toward a model focused on conservation and efficiency.
Despite holding just six percent of the world’s freshwater resources, China supports nearly one-fifth of the global population and contributes more than 18 percent of the world’s economic output. The think tank emphasized that this highlights the importance of continued innovation and discipline in managing limited water resources.
The report warns that as climate change accelerates, global water security is facing unprecedented pressure, making effective river governance an increasingly urgent challenge. It calls for deeper international cooperation to confront rising water scarcity and adapt to growing hydrological risks.
China, it noted, has engaged extensively with United Nations agencies on water issues, contributed to advances in global water-science research, and cooperated with countries and regions across the world to address shared water challenges. The report also states that China will continue to support and advance water-related objectives under the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development through concrete action and expanded collaboration. China Emerges as Global Leader in River Protection, New Report Says.
