By LI Linxu

In its latest efforts to safeguard water security, China has issued a guideline on national water network construction.

The guideline, jointly released by the Central Committee of the CPC and the State Council, draws a blueprint for the construction of the county's water network from 2021 through 2035.

By 2025, a batch of major projects concerning the national water network will be built, according to the guideline.

Great efforts will be made to shore up the weak links in water resources allocation, urban and rural water supply, flood control and drainage, water ecological protection, and smart water networks.

By 2035, the general layout of the national water network is expected to take shape, with much-improved water networks at the provincial, municipal, and county levels.

As an important part of national infrastructure, the national water network plays a crucial role in systematically solving issues of water resources, water ecology and water environment, said Li Guoying, minister of water resources, adding that the guideline is of great significance to advancing the construction of a modernized water conservancy infrastructure system and safeguarding national water security at a higher level.

The Grand Canal Forest Park in Tongzhou district, Beijing. (PHOTO: XINHUA)

The guideline sets up a series of major tasks and measures, such as bringing the comprehensive functions of major rivers into full play, implementing major water diversion projects, improving the flood control and disaster reduction of river basins, and promoting the high-quality development of the national water network.

More investment will be made to support the construction of the national water network, said Zhao Chenxin, vice chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, indicating that the central budget will focus on supporting major national water network projects, while local governments are also urged to prioritize investment in the construction of water network.

A wide range of investors, especially those in the private sector, are welcome to take part in the construction of the water network, added Zhao.

The supporting role of sci-tech is highlighted in the guideline, vowing to tap advanced technologies and tackle bottleneck technologies.

One of the priorities is to accelerate the application of new technologies, such as new generation information technology, high-resolution remote sensing satellite, and artificial intelligence, so as to elevate the digital, networking, and intelligent level of the national water network, said Wang Daoxi, vice minister of water resources.