water resources for agricultural irrigation, hydro-electric power generating as
well as live-lihood and industrial usages. It has also expanded its water tran
sportation and enhance the ability of preventing against waterlogging. In 1993,
the volume of water storage from a variety of water conservancy projects came
to 525.5 billion cubic kilometers, making up 19.1% of the national total. Of it
, 83% was for surface water and 17% was for underground water. Through a more-t
han-40-year of endeavors, remarkable achievements have been attained in develop
ing and utilizing water resources. For instance, several big rivers, such as th
e Changiiang River and the Yellow River have been not breached and basically en
sured water supply for industrial production and people's livelihood. It has al
so laid a foundation for a steady and sustained agricultural development and pl
ayed a key role in successfully solving the issue or feeding its population tha
t represents 22 percent of world's total on the seven percent of the world's to
tal land.
China is also confronted with many challenges. First, the rising demand for wat
er will not ease up in a short period of time due to uneven distribution of wat
er resources in some northern and highland areas; second, development and manag
ement of water conservancy projects have long been regarded as social welfare u
ndertakings. Investment in this field has still been influenced to a certain de
gree by the ideas and patterns of mainly relying on the government'sfinancial i
nput provided gratuitously. A self-sustained supporting and developing system h
as not been established in this field; third, with population growth, urbanizat
ion expansion and industrial and agricultural development, the contradictions b
etween water demand and supply have become increasingly serious in some medium-
and small-sized cities; fourth, the comprehensive utilization of water resourc
es has much room to be improved, the re-use rate of water appears to be rather
low and water pollution is worsening.
To protect, mange, and rationally develop and utilize water resources is not on
ly a major task for the Chinese government at present and for immediate future,
but also a need for guaranteeing its food security and sustained economic grow
th. For this purpose, the Chinese government has insisted on the principles of
"giving equal attention to economizing on the use of water and tapping new wate
r resources, and integrating protection with management". The concrete measures
have been accordingly f ormulated.
1. Strengthen the comprehensive management and treatment of soil erosion and wa
ter pollution. Thisjob should be implemented as quickly as possible. Soil er
osion and water pollution, resulting from economic construction and human ac
tivities should be mitigated to keep our water environment well maintained.
In the construction of agricultural infrastructure, irrigation works will be
consistently emphasized. Modern technology for saving water, such as drip i
rrigation and sprinkling irrigation will be popularized. Also Ecofanning wil
l be given more attention.
2. Adjust the industrial and agricultural structure and distribution of urban c
enters in water scarcity areas. Some industries that consume heavily water o
r may bring about severe pollution must not be introduced. Meanwhile, the ag
ricultural structure
