China to Invest 1.8 Trillion Yuan in Water Conservation

China's Ministry¹ of Water Resources says the country is to invest 1.8 trillion yuan, or 280 billion US dollars, in water conservation in the coming five years.

The country is also aiming to double its annual investment on water projects.

Shuangfeng has the story.

 
China is aiming to double its average annual spending on water conservation to reach 4 trillion yuan over the next decade.
Zhou Xuewen, chief planner of the Ministry of Water Resources, says that 20 percent of the investment will be used for the construction of farmland irrigation projects.

More than one third of the money will be spent on flood control and disaster reduction programs.

Zhou says that China welcomes foreign investment in all the projects.

"The Chinese government always encourages the use of foreign capital in water conservancy construction. We have been actively² utilizing³ loans from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank in projects for agricultural water conservation and water-soil conservation. We will continue to do this."

China had invested nearly 260 billion yuan in water conservation infrastructure⁴ construction by the end of September, with the central government's investment reaching nearly 114 billion yuan.

Jiao Yong, vice⁵ minister of water resources, explains how the money was used.

"The investment has been used to improve the availability of safe drinking water for 63.5 million rural residents, teachers and students; to renovate⁶ irrigation facilities and to set up early warning systems for flooding in 1100 counties. We are also investing in river management, the construction of key hubs, water source projects and water-soil conservation."

China aims to harness more than 5,000 rivers over the next five years.

Despite severe flooding this year, the country reported no breaches⁷ of major rivers or tributaries⁸ and no bursts in mid⁹ to large-sized reservoirs.

Jiao says China has made progress in water-related issues.

"The proportion of direct economic loss caused by flooding and drought in GDP in the same period is below 0.7 percent and 1.1 percent respectively. The problem of rural drinking water safety has been resolved, and water consumption has decreased 30 percent per unit of GDP and per unit of industrial value added."

The country will also intensify¹⁰ its efforts relating to the restoration of the ecosystems¹¹ of some environmentally-degraded regions as well as promoting the sustainable use of water.

For CRI, this is Shuangfeng.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 actively   

adv.积极地，勤奋地

参考例句：

• During this period all the students were actively participating.在这节课中所有的学生都积极参加。
• We are actively intervening to settle a quarrel.我们正在积极调解争执。

3 utilizing   

v.利用，使用( utilize的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• Utilizing an assembler to produce a machine-language program. 用汇编程序产生机器语言的过程。 来自辞典例句
• The study and use of devices utilizing properties of materials near absolute zero in temperature. 对材料在接近绝对零度时的特性进行研究和利用的学科。 来自辞典例句

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

6 renovate   

vt.更新，革新，刷新

参考例句：

• The couple spent thousands renovating the house.这对夫妇花了几千元来翻新房子。
• They are going to renovate the old furniture.他们准备将旧家具整修一番。

7 breaches   

破坏( breach的名词复数 )； 破裂； 缺口； 违背

参考例句：

• He imposed heavy penalties for breaches of oath or pledges. 他对违反誓言和保证的行为给予严厉的惩罚。
• This renders all breaches of morality before marriage very uncommon. 这样一来，婚前败坏道德的事就少见了。

8 tributaries   

n. 支流

参考例句：

• In such areas small tributaries or gullies will not show. 在这些地区，小的支流和冲沟显示不出来。
• These tributaries are subsequent streams which erode strike valley. 这些支流系即为蚀出走向谷的次生河。

9 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

10 intensify   

vt.加强；变强；加剧

参考例句：

• We must intensify our educational work among our own troops.我们必须加强自己部队的教育工作。
• They were ordered to intensify their patrols to protect our air space.他们奉命加强巡逻，保卫我国的领空。

11 ecosystems   

n.生态系统( ecosystem的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There are highly sensitive and delicately balanced ecosystems in the forest. 森林里有高度敏感、灵敏平衡的各种生态系统。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Madagascar's ecosystems range from rainforest to semi-desert. 马达加斯加生态系统类型多样，从雨林到半荒漠等不一而足。 来自辞典例句