The 10th HYDROPOWER FOR TODAY FORUM was held in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province from May 22 to 23. Li Liangsheng, Vice Minister of Water Resources attended the opening ceremony of the Forum and delivered a speech.
Minister Li pointed out that the Ministry of Water Resources of China has always adhered to the new development concept of innovation, coordination, going green, openness and sharing, thoroughly practiced President Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization, resolutely implemented his water governance philosophy of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches and promoting government-market synergy ”, adhered to ecological priority and green development, actively and steadily promoted hydropower development, built a benign development pattern that coordinates the hydro power development of river basins with ecological protection, environmental governance, and regional development, and gave full play to the overall benefits of hydropower development. He stressed that hydropower not only provides safe, stable, green, and efficient energy security for China to accelerate the modernization process, but also plays a variety of roles in flood control, water supply, irrigation, and shipping. Meanwhile, it effectively promotes employment, improves infrastructure construction, enhances people's well-being, and makes remarkable achievements in promoting rural electrification and local economic and social development.
Minister Li emphasized that China is willing to strengthen the cooperation and exchange with other countries and relevant international organizations, share China’s technologies and experience in hydropower development, contribute to the common progress of the global hydropower industry, and called on the international community to empower rural revitalization with the sustainable development of green hydropower. It is also crucial to actively leverage the leading role of existing mechanisms to promote standards first, constantly expand the connotation and scope of global South-South cooperation, inject vitality into the hydropower sector to implement the water-related goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and promote the construction of community with a shared future for mankind.
Chileshe Kapwepwe, the Secretary-general of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Dilip Subba, the Executive Vice-president of the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), Gunther Berger, the Managing Director of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC) delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, expressing their high recognition toward China's achievements in hydropower development and international cooperation projects. They expressed their hope to further deepen the cooperation with China in areas such as policy exchange, technological R&D and personnel training, in order to jointly promote sustainable economic and social development.
HYDROPOWER FOR TODAY FORUM is jointly initiated by the Ministry of Water Resources of China and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, aiming to promote the cooperation of international organizations, developed countries and developing countries, and advance the global small hydro power development. The Forum this year is themed on "Green hydropower promoting rural sustainable development", with nearly 150 participants, including about 50 foreign guests from over 20 countries and international organizations. Hangzhou Declaration was released at the Forum.
