On April 29, 2026, the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR) held a press conference on achievements in water scientific and technological innovation. Zu Leiming, Vice Minister of Water Resources, attended the press conference and briefed on relevant developments.
Zu Leiming stated that since the start of the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the water sector has steadfastly implemented President Xi Jinping’s important expositions on water governance and scientific and technological innovation. Guided by the strategic orientation of setting our sights on the global frontiers of science and technology, national economic development, the major needs of the country, and the health and safety of the people, the water sector has advanced scientific and technological innovation in a systematic manner, accelerated the building of an advanced and practical scientific and technological support system for water sector, fostered new quality productive forces in light of local conditions, and provided strong support for promoting high-quality development of water sector and safeguarding national water security. The main achievements are as follows:
First, major breakthroughs have been made in key scientific and technological research. Focusing on major national strategies and the needs of high-quality development in water sector, a total of 576 research projects have been launched through various channels. Continuous efforts have been made in basic research, applied basic research, and high-tech research development, yielding a series of major breakthroughs. A number of achievements have won national and provincial or ministerial-level science and technology awards. China has achieved a world-leading position in key areas including digital twin water system, hydrological monitoring and forecasting, dam construction, operation and maintenance, sediment transport and regulation, water-saving irrigation in agriculture, joint operation of reservoir groups, and river and lake ecological restoration.
Second, reform of the science and technology system has been further deepened. A Science and Technology Leading Group of the Ministry of Water Resources was set up, headed by the Minister of Water Resources, to enhance leadership and coordination in water sci-tech affairs. The role of the Science and Technology Committee of the Ministry of Water Resources has been fully leveraged to strengthen decision-making consultation on major water sci-tech strategies, plans, policies, and projects. A batch of policy documents were issued, including the Guidelines on Further Strengthening Water Science and Technology Innovation. We improved the evaluation system and assessment mechanisms for water science and technology to ensure the delivery of more practical and effective scientific achievements. Education, technology, and human resources were advanced in an integrated manner.
The Xiaolangdi Project on the Yellow River [Photo / Xinhua]
Third, the technical standards system has been improved at a faster pace. We continuously improved the water technical standard system oriented toward developing new quality productive forces, significantly accelerated the pace of standard formulation and revision, and constantly optimized the supply of effective standards. As a result, there are currently 774 valid water technical standards in force. We deepened the construction of national standard verification sites in the water sector, as well as national quality standard laboratories for hydrological and water engineering safety monitoring and inspection, and water-saving industries. We innovatively launched a series of promotional videos titled “Standard Lectures” and saw annual views on the free standard disclosure platform exceed 1.2 million. We continuously deepened the “soft connectivity” of water standards under the Belt and Road Initiative. Technical committees and working groups of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) related to small hydropower, hydrology, and smart irrigation have been successfully established in China, enabling us to spearhead the development of a batch of international water-related standards. Breakthrough progress was made in water metrology, marked by the successive completion and operation of the National Water Resources Metrology Station and the National Hydrology Metrology Station.
Fourth, the innovation platform landscape has been continuously optimized. Multiple national key laboratories related to the water sector have successfully completed their restructuring, resulting in a total of eight such laboratories established under the auspices of MWR affiliated units and jointly built universities. We strengthened the strategic layout of three types of ministerial-level sci-tech innovation platforms—key laboratories, technology innovation centers, and Field Scientific Observation and Research Stations (FSORS)—under MWR. An innovation platform system covering prototype observation, physical model testing, and mathematical model simulation has been preliminarily established, playing a positive role in accumulating scientific data, conducting basic and applied basic research, and transferring scientific and technological achievements. We also actively promoted the construction of the National Water Network Scientific Research Base, providing robust technological support for building a safe and resilient modern water network.
Fifth, the transfer and application of scientific and technological achievements have been accelerated and become more efficient. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, 502 mature and applicable water sci-tech achievements were selected and released, effectively promoting their demonstration, application, and iterative upgrading. We established a promotion matrix led by the China Water Expo, complemented by various water technology training sessions, seminars, and on-site comparative tests, all working in concert. Over 220 promotion activities were organized to vigorously disseminate new water technologies, products, equipment, and construction methods. Numerous technology enterprises have intensified R&D and manufacturing in areas such as hydrological precipitation radar, water-saving irrigation, automated hydrological monitoring, and digital twin water systems, further highlighting the dominant role of enterprises in water sci-tech innovation.
Sixth, international scientific and technological cooperation has been expanded and deepened. We fully utilized major international water events to promote and explain China’s innovative concepts and practices in water governance, contributing Chinese wisdom and experience to global water governance. Leveraging platforms such as the Belt and Road Joint Laboratories and international sci-tech cooperation bases, we conducted extensive technological exchanges. The water sector is home to four international sci-tech organizations focused on water with headquarters in China, and has established seven counterpart institutions for international water organizations. Three English-language academic journals under the administration of MWR—International Journal of Sediment Research, International Soil and Water Conservation Research, and China Ocean Engineering—have been indexed by the Science Citation Index (SCI), constituting a frontier platform for China’s international academic exchange in relevant fields.
During the 15th Five-Year Plan period, MWR will stay focused on the goal of building an advanced and practical scientific and technological supporting system for water sector, make greater contributions to promoting high-quality development in the water sector and ensuring national water security.
(Source:INTCE)
