At the end of year 2015, the Minister of Water Resources Mr. Chen Lei has sent his warmest wishes to everyone working in water field celebrating New Year. A summary is made on the achievement of 2015 and new tasks in 2016 is presented.
The Year of 2015 marked the end of 12th Five-Year Plan. Great achievements have been made in water development and reform although we have faced with challenges and heavy tasks. Damages and losses caused by flood and drought as well as typhoon attack have been eliminated effectively and the number of death and missing due to the disasters has dropped to the lowest level since the founding of new China in 1949. The annual target of water supply and conservation defined by the State Council has been met and another 64 million rural people access to safe drinking water. We have accomplished the tasks written in the Report on the Work of the Government ahead of schedule. Grain production increases for a consecutive of 12 years have been realized with the support of water structures and effectiveness of water governance.
The years of 2016 is the starting year of 13th Five-Year Plan which is regarded as the decisive stage of China to finish building a moderately prosperous society in all respects. We shall effectively implement the working policy in the new age and focus on construction of key water supply and conservation projects, building network of water infrastructures, implementation of stringent water resources management system, building water-saving society as well as cleaning of river systems and ecological restoration, by means of strengthening responsibility system for flood control and drought relief and safeguarding lives and property of people, giving priority to water conservation for reducing total water consumption, and deepening reform and scientific innovation for a harmonious development of urban and rural areas.
