About Us

Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China
International Water Resources Association
International Scientific Committee

Li Guoying

Minister
Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China

It gives me great honour that the XVIII World Water Congress will be held in Beijing. On behalf of the Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China, the co-host of the Congress, I wish to extend a sincere welcome to leading experts, researchers, decision-makers, and professionals from all over the world to participate in the Congress, exchanging experiences and sharing achievements regarding a wide range of topics related to water.

Water is the essence of the earth, the foundation of humanity and the source of civilisation. With rapid population growth and economic and social development, issues regarding water resources have become increasingly prominent. At present, a large population in the world lives in water-scarce areas or even has no access to clean drinking water. The increasing effects arising from global climate change and the frequent occurrence of extreme weather events such as floods, droughts, and other natural disasters have posed severe challenges to global water security. In response to these problems, the United Nations has called for global action to share advanced development concepts and technologies in the field of water resources and to take energy-saving, environmental protection, and eco-friendly comprehensive measures to achieve the water-related goals of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The Chinese nation has an outstanding heritage of water management, echoing through the 5000 years of Chinese civilisation. From the Emperor Yu's combat against the floods, the Dujiangyan Irrigation System and the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, to the Three Gorges Reservoir and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, all of them have demonstrated the wisdom of the Chinese nation in flood control, water conservation, and utilisation from ancient to modern times. In the face of global water security challenges, China adheres to the new development philosophy of innovation, coordination, green, open, and sharing. We thoroughly implement the water governance philosophy of “prioritising water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches, and giving full play to the roles of both government and market” , and integrate this approach in the mitigation of floods and droughts disasters, optimisation of water resources allocation, protection of ecosystems and improvement of water environment. In this way, China has safeguarded the water use for nearly 20% of the world's population with 6% of the world's freshwater resources, making a great contribution to the realisation of the 2030 UN Sustainable Development Goals and the vision of jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind.

The XVIII World Water Congress is under the theme of “Water for All: Harmony between Humans and Nature” . We cordially welcome you to join us at the XVIII World Water Congress, to have dialogues on better scientific policies and solutions, and to contribute to an exciting and inspiring water event.

I look forward to seeing you in Beijing！

Li Yuanyuan

President of International Water Resources Association

On behalf of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), I am delighted to invite you to attend IWRA's XVIII World Water Congress in Beijing, China, from September 11-15, 2023.

IWRA is an international and professional network of multi-disciplinary, multi-sectorial experts on water resources. The core of IWRA is to conduct cutting-edge research, promote capacity-building and steer science-based solutions, bridge the science-policy interface to agree on water and development agendas and strategies, and advocate for progress. IWRA celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021 and has accomplished remarkable achievements over the past five decades, but we still have a lot of work ahead of us. We will continue to build on and expand other vehicles in keeping with the needs and possibilities of the future, including online congresses, master classes, webinars, policy briefs, and task forces, as well as collaboration with key partners. Most importantly, we will continue to promote the World Water Congress as a key activity.

The World Water Congress is a well-established and globally recognised event in the water sector worldwide. Since 1973, this influential event has been successfully held 17 times and has become one of the most respected and anticipated world water events. It aims to provide a platform for highlighting and addressing global water science and management issues and networking with the international water communities. The overarching theme of the XVIII Congress is "Water for All: Harmony between Humans and Nature". Based on that, the International Scientific Committee (ISC), consisting of 54 professionals, representatives, and active members, has proposed 6 sub-themes and 44 topics.

IWRA, together with the Chinese government, the co-host of the XVIII Congress, is inviting and welcoming various high-level experts and researchers to address key international water management issues at the interface of science and policy. We also devote ourselves to facilitating bilateral and multilateral cooperation and enhancing constructive dynamic knowledge sharing in the water sector.

I am pleased to announce that the XVIII World Water Congress will be convened in Beijing in 2023. Based on a friendly, trustworthy, and collaborative spirit, the XVIII Congress will promote cohesion and openness, and encourage dialogue, diversity, mutual respect, and equity. As the President of IWRA, I cordially express my appreciation for your support and active participation.

I look forward to seeing you in 2023 at the XVIII World Water Congress in Beijing!

Renée Martin-Nagle

Shi Qiuchi

International Scientific Committee(ISC) Co-chairs

In a year from now, 11-15 September 2023, the XVIII World Water Congress (WWC) will be held in Beijing, China, and we have the honor to invite you to join the international water community at one of the premier water events in the world.

The call for formal participation is being launched in September 2022, and there are several ways that you can participate in the WWC, such as through oral and poster presentations as well as Special Sessions and Side Events. All abstracts and event proposals are expected to relate to one of the six sub-themes, and abstract submissions are due 31 December 2022. More information about the WWC and each of the ways to participate can be found on the WWC website.

As with past World Water Congresses, we expect to receive abstracts and proposals from a wide range of international, national and local water organizations and institutions, youth water forums, and leading experts, professionals and students from both developed and developing countries. In this way, we hope to build a diverse, multidisciplinary and multi-sectoral Congress that will provide opportunities to present cutting-edge research and program applications, gain new knowledge, engage in productive discussions, meet high-level personalities, network, and much more.

The Congress programme will not only be shaped by regular and special sessions focusing on scientific, engineering, technical and policy aspects but also by the international water and development agendas. High-level panels, distinguished invitees and keynote speakers will contribute to enrich this programme as well as help bridge this Congress with other key global events, such as the UN Water Conference in March 2023.

This Congress provides a unique and valuable opportunity to learn more about China’s water-related projects. As a vast and diverse country with thousands of years of experience in water management, China has faced a myriad of challenges to address flooding, water scarcity and water distribution, and the Congress programme will include insights into historic and modern solutions. In addition to the formal programme, attendees may choose to take one of multiple technical field trips to learn more about Chinese water management projects, including trips to the Summer Palace, the Miyun Reservoir, the Three Gorges Dam and the South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

We encourage you to send your abstracts for oral and poster presentations and your proposals for Special Sessions and Side Event for the 2023 XVIII World Water Congress and to join us next year in Beijing for what will certainly be a content-rich and exciting event.

The World Water Congress is one of the world's largest congresses linking water policy makers, researchers and policy practitioners. Since 1973, International Water Resources Association (IWRA) has held a World Water Congress every three years in various locations around the world. This influential event has been successfully held 17 times. During the Congress, heads of international organisations, high level government officials, experts, scholars, entrepreneurs and economists from all over the world would share their knowledge, experience and practice regarding a wide range of topics related to water.

The XVIII World Water Congress will take place in Beijing, China, from 11 to 15 September 2023.

With the theme of "Water for All: Harmony between Humans and Nature", the XVIII World Water Congress aims to promote coordination and balance between the water needs of humans and nature. The Congress will facilitate knowledge and experience sharing, focusing on investigating the relationship between water, humans and nature, identifying and reconciling all water-related factors in a coordinated manner, and making and implementing water management strategies and polices using systematic approaches.

The objective of the World Water Congress is to provide a meeting place to share experiences, promote discussion, and to present new knowledge, research results and new developments in the field of water sciences around the world. For almost five decades the World Water Congresses have been excellent events for the identification of major global themes concerning the water agenda, and for the bringing together of a large cross-section of stakeholders for the development and implementation of decisions in the field of water.

Water for All: Harmony between Humans and Nature

Water is for all, including humans and nature. As a precious natural resource, water plays a vital role in meeting human needs, preserving the environment and developing our countries. Thus, water management should consider, coordinate and balance the various needs, and fundamentally achieve harmony, which embodies a dynamic, coordinated, appropriate and equitable relationship, between humans and nature.

Sub-theme 1: Water-Human-Economy(Agriculture, Industry, City...)-Ecology Nexus under a Changing Environment

Various factors impacts water security, including climate change, infectious diseases, and traditional factors (e.g. population growth, urbanization, industrialization, agricultural development, floods, droughts, pollution, groundwater over-exploitation, etc.). To ensure water security both globally and locally, it is required to coordinate multiple aspects of the water sector, as well as the relationships of water with social-economic development (human behaviors), ecological sustainability (natural dynamics with human influences) and water-food-energy nexus.

1-1: Rules and mechanisms of natural hydrological cycling and socio-economic water cycling evolution under climate change

1-2: Vulnerability and adaptability of water-land-energy-food nexus

1-3: Balanced and coordinated development of water-economy-ecology system

1-4: Water security challenges in key regions

1-5: Water security assessment and risk management

1-6: Water security, human development and economic growth linkages

1-7: Climate-induced risks in irrigation and water supply
Sub-theme 2: Promoting Water Efficiency, Productivity and Services

A healthy water system should reflect the true value of water to deliver services for people and the environment, such as clean and affordable water for drinking, adequate and equitable water supply for livelihoods, and prosperous ecosystems with biodiversity. Water efficiency can be promoted by proper pricing, water saving, and water reuse and recycling, integrated water management, etc.

2-1: Water supply and demand management

2-2: Water use efficiency and productivity improvement through scientific, technical, economic and educational means

2-3: Agricultural/Irrigation water and other rural water systems for livelihood improvement

2-4: Wastewater treatment and reuse

2-5: Water pricing and water rights reforms

2-6: Covid-19 and safe drinking water

2-7: Water services and water service providers
Sub-theme 3: Building Resilience for Disaster Prevention and Mitigation

To address the impacts of climate change and human activities, it is necessary to build resilience to enhance adaptation capacity and mitigate water-related disaster risks, such as, floods, droughts, pollution accidents, groundwater over-exploitation, and man-made events.

3-1: Prevention and mitigation of extreme weather induced water-related disasters

3-2: Development of flood control projects

3-3: Nature-based Solutions for water-related disaster prevention and mitigation

3-4: Floodwater resource management and utilization

3-5: Monitoring and early warning of water-related disasters

3-6: Improving resilience of water infrastructure projects for extreme events

3-7: Management of water risks induced by extreme weather and climate events
Sub-theme 4: Supporting Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Functions

An aquatic ecosystem needs adequate space, quantity, quality, and biodiversity to reach a good condition for its intrinsic functions. This needs to protect the water from the source to the estuary and requires a holistic and nature-based solution.

4-1: The ecological health of rivers and lakes

4-2: Maintenance and restoration of the river basin eco-hydrological process

4-3: Protection and management of major rivers and lakes, from headwaters to estuaries

4-4: Ecological restoration of degraded rivers and lakes

4-5: Value of aquatic ecological products/goods and services

4-6: Aquatic biodiversity protection

4-7: Groundwater and ecosystem

4-8: Water quality improvement
Sub-theme 5: Establishing Sustainable Water Infrastructures

Strategic approaches are needed to combine natural water systems and water infrastructure in an environment-friendly ways to secure reliable social and economic services, such as flood control, water supply for drinking/agriculture/industry, energy generation, navigation, ecosystem conservation, etc. Sustainable and smart water infrastructure aims to solve water-related issues using state-of-the-art sciences and technologies, such as cloud computing, big data, internet of things, geospatial exploration and sensing, machine learning, artificial intelligence, etc.

5-1: Exploitation and development of Nature-based Solutions in water engineering and technology

5-2: Large inter-basin water diversion projects

5-3: Digital twin river basins and digital twin projects

5-4: Intelligent business application system for water regulation and management

5-5: Joint operation and regulation of water projects

5-6: Multi-functional utilization of water projects, including hydropower stations
Sub-theme 6: Innovation for Water Governance and Management

This subtheme focuses on the management pillar to make what discussed in the other five subthemes realistic. Innovation of water management is a necessity to bridge gaps in the traditional management mindset. Topics include institutional system reform, water resources management, financing and marketing mechanisms, legal system building, river basin management, management innovation, and other mechanisms.

6-1: Water rights and water markets

6-2: Innovation of investment and financing mechanism, including green finance

6-3: Adaptive water management

6-4: Integrated river basin management

6-5: Information transparency and public participation

6-6: Role of Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) initiatives and reporting

6-7: Role of national and international law

6-8: Creative technology and tools for water resources management

6-9: Water footprint analysis and its application in regional land use planning

The Ministry of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China (MWR) and the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) have set up governance and working bodies, which consist of the Congress Organising Committee (COC), National Organising Committee (NOC), International Scientific Committee (ISC), Congress Secretariat (CS) and IWRA Executive Office (EO).

Congress Organising Committee (COC)
National Organising Committee (NOC)
International Scientific Committee (ISC)
Congress Secretariat (CS)

Congress Organising Committee (COC)

Honorary Chair

Li Guoying Minister of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China

Chair

Wang Daoxi Vice Minister of Water Resources of the People's Republic of China

Vice Chairs

Yang Derui Director General of Water Resources Management Department, MWR, China

Xu Wenhai Director General of National Office of Water Conservation, MWR, China

Gao Minfeng Counsel of Planning and Programming Department, MWR, China; Vice President of the China National Committee of IWRA

Shen Fengsheng President of the General Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design, MWR, China

Li Ge Deputy Director General of International Cooperation, Science and Technology Department, MWR, China

Members

Chen Shengshui President of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute

Du Bingzhao Deputy Director General of Water Resources Management Department, MWR, China; Vice President of the China National Committee of IWRA

Gabriel Eckstein Past president of IWRA; Professor of Law at Texas A&M University

Loïc Fauchon President of World Water Council

Jing Maotao Deputy Counsel of River and Lake Management Department, MWR, China

Sasha Koo-Oshima Deputy Director of Land and Water Division, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations

Kuang Shangfu President of China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research

Li Xiaojing Deputy Director General of Policy, Law and Regulation Department, MWR, China

Li Xiaolin Deputy Director General of General Office, MWR, China

Li Xingxue Deputy Director General of Hydrology Department, MWR, China

Li Yuanyuan Vice President of the General Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design, MWR, China; President of IWRA; President of the China National Committee of IWRA

Oriana Romano Head of Unit, Water Governance and Circular Economy in Cities, Urban Policies, and Sustainable Development Division, OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities

András Szöllősi-Nagy Professor of the National University of Public Service, Budapest, Hungary

Wang Zhangli Deputy Director General of Flood and Drought Disaster Prevention Department, MWR, China

Xu Dezhi Deputy Director General of Rural Water and Hydropower Department, MWR, China

Yuan Qitian Counsel of South-to-North Water Diversion Project Management Department, MWR, China

Zhang Yunchang Counsel of Three Gorges Project Management Department, MWR, China

Zhang Fan Lead Economist and Global Lead for Water Economics and Climate Change, World Bank

National Organising Committee (NOC)

Chair

Yang Derui Director General of Water Resources Management Department, MWR, China

Vice Chairs

Shen Fengsheng President of the General Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design, MWR, China

Li Xiaolin Deputy Director General of General Office, MWR, China

Du Bingzhao Deputy Director General of Water Resources Management Department, MWR, China; Vice President of the China National Committee of IWRA

Yan Yong Deputy Counsel of National Office of Water Conservation, MWR, China; Vice President of the China National Committee of IWRA

Li Ge Deputy Director General of International Cooperation, Science and Technology Department, MWR, China

Executive Vice Chair

Li Yuanyuan Vice President of the General Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design, MWR, China; President of IWRA; President of the China National Committee of IWRA

International Scientific Committee (ISC)

Honorary Chairs

Patrick Lavarde

Co-chair of the International Steering Committee of 9th World Water Forum; Past President of IWRA

Zhang Jianyun

Professor of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute; Academician of Chinese Academy of Engineering

Co-chairs

Renée Martin-Nagle

Treasurer of IWRA; President of A Ripple Effect; Special Counsel of Eckert Seamans; Visiting Scholar of Environmental Law Institute

Shi Qiuchi

Bureau Member of World Water Council (2019-2022); Chair of Water Security Task Force of World Water Council (2019-2022); Former Director of International Centre for Economic and Technical Cooperation and Exchange, MWR, China

Vice Chairs

Rabi H. Mohtar

Professor of Texas A&M University; Fellow of American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers; Adjunct Professor of American University of Beirut and Purdue University; Senior International non-resident Fellow of OCP, Morocco; Governor of World Water Council; Vice President of IWRA

Wang Jianhua

Vice President of China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research; Vice President of the China National Committee of IWRA

Cecilia Tortajada

Professor in Practice of Environmental Innovation, University of Glasgow; Past President of IWRA

Wang Zhongjing

Professor of Tsinghua University; Vice President of Ningxia University; Vice President of the China National Committee of IWRA

Huang Yan

Vice Chief Engineer of Changjiang Water Resources Commission

Yoonjin Kim

Asia Pacific Regional Manager of the World Water Council

Guillermo Donoso

Full Professor at the Water Law and Economics Center of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Jia Shaofeng

Professor of the Institute of Geographic Science and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences; Vice President of the China National Committee of IWRA; IWRA Fellow Member

ISC Members

Congress Secretariat (CS)

General Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Planning and Design, MWR, China has set up the Congress Secretariat, which consists of six working groups: Coordinative Group, Technical Group, International Cooperative Group, Media-support Group, Budget and Finance Group and Logistics Group.