As New Year comes, Minister Wang Shucheng extends his New Year wishes and sincere greetings to all employees working in the water sector on behalf of the leading group of the Ministry of Water Resources, as well as people in various fields who concern and support the development of water causes in China throughout of years.

2006 is the first year for our country to implement the eleventh Five-Year Plan and the opening year to advance the socialist new countryside construction. Throughout the year, we persist in putting people at the center; overcome severe flood and drought disasters; win over extremely strong typhoons and minimize financial losses caused by those disasters. The construction process of south-to-north water diversion project and harnessing of the Huaihe river were accelerated, and strengthening of risky reservoirs has achieved an effective result. The Pearl River emergency water transfer was implemented and water diversions to Beijing and Baiyangdian were conducted for alleviating severe water shortage in Beijing Municipality. A series of regulations such as Regulations on Management of Water Abstraction Licenses and Water Resources Charges were made public.

In order to promote sustainable development of water and establishment of a harmonious society, in 2007 we should pay great attention on solving the problems that are most concerned and directly related to the interest of the people.

First, great efforts should be made on reinforcing risky or dangerous reservoirs.

Second, we should safeguard drinking water in rural areas. 160 million rural population shall access to safe drinking water by the end of eleventh Five-Year Plan period. Till 2010 water quality problems caused by high-fluorine, high-arsenic as well as brackish water or schistosome in some areas shall be targeted, so as to reduce the current population of suffering unsafe drinking water to 1/2.

Third, we shall continue to modernize large and medium-sized irrigation districts; meanwhile improve end-cannel system for enhancing water use efficiency.

Fourth, we shall pay attention to legal rights of reservoir resettlement and the implementation of resettlement regulations.

In the year of 2007, we shall confront with new challenges and tasks, thus emphasis shall be placed on both flood control and draught relief, especially to prevent disasters of flood and draught caused by extreme climates, accelerate the construction of key projects of the Huaihe river harness, improve water management and manage water in accordance with laws, promote scientific and technical renovation in the water sector and exchange and cooperation with other countries, so as to complete our targets and tasks.