Ensuring Flood Control Security, Water Supply Security, Food Security, and Ecological Security

On September 29, a press conference themed “High-Quality Completion of the ’14th Five-Year Plan'” was held. It was stated that since the start of the “14th Five-Year Plan,” new achievements have been made in water resources development, better ensuring flood control security, water supply security, food security, and ecological security.

Record High Investment in Water Conservancy Construction Last Year

“Since the ’14th Five-Year Plan,’ investment in water conservancy construction has exceeded one trillion yuan for three consecutive years, reaching 1,352.9 billion yuan in 2024, a record high. During the ’14th Five-Year Plan’ period, total investment in water conservancy construction is expected to reach 5.4 trillion yuan, 1.6 times that of the ’13th Five-Year Plan’ period.”

Since the “14th Five-Year Plan,” 172 major water conservancy projects have commenced. By the end of 2024, the country had built 95,000 reservoirs, 200 large and medium-sized water diversion projects, 6,924 large and medium-sized irrigation areas, and 318,000 kilometers of embankments, forming the world’s largest, most comprehensive, and most populous water infrastructure system.

Since the “14th Five-Year Plan,” the proportion of flood disaster losses to GDP has decreased from 0.28% during the “13th Five-Year Plan” to 0.18%. Reservoir flood control capacity is 185.6 billion cubic meters, embankments protect 660 million people, national flood storage and detention areas have a capacity of 109 billion cubic meters, and there are 133,000 hydrological stations. Floods exceeding warning levels in 3,981 rivers have been overcome, including 223 rivers experiencing their largest recorded floods. Severe droughts in the Yangtze River, Pearl River, and other basins were effectively managed, ensuring drinking water security for affected populations and irrigation water needs for crops in drought-stricken areas.

“Digitalization, networking, and intelligentization are future trends and development directions.” Since the “14th Five-Year Plan,” systematic planning has advanced the construction of digital twin water systems, extending the flood forecasting period for major rivers nationwide from 3 days to 10 days.

What new progress has been made in national water network construction during the “14th Five-Year Plan” period? “The water resource allocation pattern of ‘south-north water transfer and east-west mutual support’ is accelerating, with national water network coverage expected to reach 80.3% by the end of this year.” Since the “14th Five-Year Plan,” construction has begun on 15 major water diversion projects, including the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project’s Yangtze River to Han River supplement, and 12 major water diversion projects, such as the first phase of the Yangtze River to Huaihe River Water Diversion, have been completed. 2,150 irrigation areas were newly built or renovated, and 73,500 rural water supply projects were completed. The South-to-North Water Diversion Project has fully utilized its role, with the East and Middle Route first phases transferring over 83 billion cubic meters of water, providing stable, high-quality water sources for 195 million people in 48 large and medium-sized cities along the routes, enhancing overall water resource allocation and supply security capabilities.

Achieving Zero Growth in Total Water Use Amid Economic Growth

“During the ’14th Five-Year Plan’ period, water resource conservation and intensive utilization capabilities and levels have further improved. Despite continuous significant economic growth and successive bumper grain harvests, total water use has achieved zero growth.”

How was this achieved? “Using water resources meticulously, strengthening the modernization and renovation of irrigation areas, implementing deep water conservation and control in the Yellow River Basin, and comprehensive water conservation in the water-receiving areas of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project’s East and Middle Routes have further improved water use efficiency and benefits. In 2024, water use per 10,000 yuan of GDP and per 10,000 yuan of industrial added value decreased by 17.7% and 23.6%, respectively, compared to 2020. Water-saving irrigation area reached 638 million mu, the effective utilization coefficient of farmland irrigation water rose to

South-to-North Water Diversion Project

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project is a massive infrastructure system in China designed to channel water from the water-rich south to the arid north. It was conceived in the 1950s to address severe water shortages and support economic development in northern regions like Beijing. The project, one of the largest of its kind, involves three main routes (eastern, central, and western) and has been constructed and operational in phases since the early 21st century.

Yangtze River

The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world, flowing for over 6,300 kilometers across China. It has been a cradle of Chinese civilization for millennia, serving as a vital source for agriculture, transport, and settlement. Its history is deeply intertwined with China’s economic and cultural development, famously illustrated by the controversial Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest power station.

Pearl River

The Pearl River is a major river system in southern China, historically serving as a vital trade route for the region. It flows through the city of Guangzhou and forms the Pearl River Delta, a significant economic hub and cultural center for centuries. The river’s estuary gives the region its name and has been crucial for transportation, commerce, and cultural exchange.

Yellow River Basin

The Yellow River Basin is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization, as it was home to the earliest Chinese dynasties, such as the Xia and Shang. This region fostered major advancements in agriculture, culture, and governance, profoundly shaping China’s historical development. Today, it remains a vital agricultural and economic heartland, though it faces challenges like flooding and sedimentation.

Han River

The Han River flows through the heart of Seoul, South Korea, and has been a vital lifeline for over two thousand years, supporting early settlements that later became the Baekje Kingdom’s capital. In the 20th and 21st centuries, it has been dramatically transformed, evolving from a site of wartime conflict into a symbol of the nation’s rapid economic growth and a popular public recreation space. Today, its banks are lined with parks, bike paths, and skyscrapers, making it a central hub for leisure and modern city life.

Huaihe River

The Huaihe River is a major river in eastern China, historically significant as a geographical and cultural boundary between northern and southern China. It has a long history of flooding, leading to extensive water control projects and playing a vital role in regional agriculture and transportation. Today, it remains an important water resource and a symbol of resilience for the communities along its banks.

Yangtze River to Huaihe River Water Diversion

The Yangtze River to Huaihe River Water Diversion Project is a major water transfer system in eastern China, primarily designed to supply water to the arid northern regions of Jiangsu and Anhui provinces. Historically, this project builds upon ancient canal systems, with its modern construction beginning in the 1950s to address water scarcity and support agriculture and industry. It remains a critical infrastructure for regional water resource management and flood control.

Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project

The Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project is a massive infrastructure system in China designed to channel fresh water from the Han River in the south to the arid north, including Beijing. Its construction, which began in 2003 and became operational in 2014, was initiated to alleviate severe water shortages in northern cities and support economic development. The project diverts water over 1,400 kilometers primarily via a gravity-fed canal, making it one of the world’s largest water transfer projects.