OREANDA-NEWS. June 27, 2012. In the morning of June 21, 2012, the Closing Event of EU-China RBMP was held in Beijing. Vice Minister Liu Ning, EU Ambassador Markus Ederer and Ambassador of the Republic of Portugal Mr. Suarez presented at the conference.

The EU-China River Basin Management Programme (RBMP) formally initiated in 2007 is designed for China to benefit from advances in integrated water resources management and protection gained during 25 years of formulation and implementation of common EU water policy and legislation, synthesized in the EU Water Framework Directive (EU WFD). The vision is pursued through to support Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Yellow River Conservancy Commission (YRCC), the Changjiang Water Resources Commission (CWRC) to enhance integrated river basin management (IRBM) practices with specific attention to the Yellow and Yangtze River basins.

In his speech, Vice Minister Liu Ning highly appraised the achievement made by the programme, which has contributed to China’s national goal for the water sector “sustainable management and use of China’s water resources that are compatible with socio-economic development and natural global change”.

The two parties wish to further strengthen cooperation after the programme and cope with challenges brought by water crises with joint hands. About 80 participants joined the wrap-up meeting.