On July 4, 2025, China’s State Council Information Office announced ambitious plans to enhance the protection and governance of rivers and lakes across the country. Leaders from the Ministry of Water Resources and the National Development and Reform Commission outlined a vision aiming for harmonious coexistence between humans and water by 2035.
The newly issued Opinions on Comprehensively Promoting the Protection and Governance of Rivers and Lakes serves as a guiding document for these initiatives. The plan focuses on forming a pattern where rivers nurture the people, and in turn, the people safeguard the rivers.
Key areas of action include ensuring the safety of rivers and lakes, promoting water conservation, protecting ecological environments, improving water quality, fostering water culture, and enhancing governance mechanisms.
In light of this year’s flood season, the Ministry of Water Resources emphasized the “four noes” goal: no casualties, no dam breaches of reservoirs, no breaches of important dikes, and no impacts on critical infrastructure. Measures such as intensified monitoring, unified management of water projects, and preventive actions are being strengthened.
China has made significant strides in water resource conservation. Over the past decade, while the economy nearly doubled and urbanization increased, total water consumption remained stable at approximately 610 billion cubic meters. The ministry plans to further develop water-saving systems across agriculture, industry, and urban areas.
The national water network is also expanding. The first-phase projects of the South-to-North Water Diversion have transferred over 80 billion cubic meters of water, directly benefiting 185 million people. Ongoing projects aim to enhance water connectivity at provincial, municipal, and county levels.
Efforts to manage groundwater over-extraction in northern China have yielded positive results, with a significant reduction in over-extraction volumes and affected areas. Future initiatives will extend these successes to other regions.
Additionally, the Ministry of Water Resources is promoting the Mother River Revival Action, focusing on ecological flow management, protection of water areas and shorelines, and comprehensive control of soil and water loss. These endeavors aim to ensure water security and achieve a harmonious relationship between humans and nature.
