On the morning of February 2, the 3rd Meeting of the China-EU Water Policy Dialogue Mechanism was convened at the EU Headquarters in Brussels, themed “Improving Water Resilience Through Strengthening Cooperation”. Mr. Li Guoying, Minister of Water Resources of China, and Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, attended the meeting and delivered keynote speeches.
Li Guoying pointed out that the conservation and intensive use of water resources constitutes a crucial area in China’s comprehensive conservation strategy. With profound insights into China’s national conditions and water realities, President Xi Jinping, from the strategic height of realizing the sustainable development of the Chinese nation and safeguarding national long-term stability, has proposed the water governance principles of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches, and promoting government-market synergy”. Under its guidance, water conservation shall be placed at the forefront in terms of mindset, awareness, and measures. We shall align urban planning, land use, population distribution and production with water availability, maximize the utilization efficiency of water resources and apply rigorous and meticulous management approaches. Ministry of Water Resources of China has actively implemented Preisdent Xi Jinping’s water governance princples, and has adhered to and acted on prioritizing water conservation. With institutional development as the main focus, it concentrates on three key areas: improving agricultural water use efficiency, industrial water-saving and emission reduction, and urban water-saving and loss reduction. The Ministry systematically designs a policy framework for water conservation, leveraging the systematic, comprehensive and coordinated nature of this institutional system to drive high-quality development of water conservation.
Li Guoying highlighted the positive achievements China has made in improving agricultural water use efficiency, industrial water-saving and emission reduction, and urban water-saving and loss reduction, thanks to the implementation of its water conservation institutional and policy system. He stated that the sustained, pragmatic and in-depth water governance cooperation between China and the EU is an urgent necessity for advancing global water governance and achieving water-related goals and targets of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Both sides should further strengthen policy dialogue, deepen cooperation on climate adaptation, step up key international water governance agendas, and give full play to the demonstrative and leading role of China-EU cooperation in global water governance.
Roswall presented EU 2025 Water Resilience Strategy, which aims to restore and protect the water cycle, build a smart water-efficient economy, and provide clean and affordable water and sanitation for all. The EU stands ready to share its technologies and experience with China in the implementation of the 2025 Water Resilience Strategy, and to jointly contribute wisdom and strength to advancing the achievement of water-related goals and targets under the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
During the meeting, China and EU experts presented technical reports on three thematic areas: water resources protection and efficient utilization, digital twin water and international water governance. Besides, Li Guoying and Jessika Roswall conducted discussions on policies, initiatives and outcomes related to water governance. They also held bilateral talks before and after the meeting, and exchanged views on propelling water governance and practical cooperation.
Lauched in 2017, the China-EU Water Policy Dialogue Mechanism aims at implementing the outcomes of China-EU leaders’ meetings and enhancing China-EU water policy communication, exchanges and cooperation.