STORY: China's mega water diversion project benefits people along the routes: experts
DATELINE: Sept. 15, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:14
LOCATION: Beijing
CATEGORY: ENVIRONMENT

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the 18th World Water Congress
2. various of water resource infrastructures in China
3. various of city views
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SHI HAIFENG, Deputy Director of Science and Technology Development Department, China South-to-North Water Diversion Co., Ltd.
5. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PHILIPPE GOURBESVILLE, President of International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research
6. SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GABRIEL E. ECKSTEIN, Professor and Director, Texas A&M University School of Law
7. SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LI YUNLING, Ministry of Water Resources of PRC

STORYLINE:

Experts and officials attending the 18th World Water Congress has said that China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project represents a remarkable optimization of the nation's water resource distribution, and it has improved the livelihoods of people living along its routes.

Official data showed the eastern and middle routes of China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project have transferred 65.4 billion cubic meters of water so far.

Hundreds of cities in the north, including metropolises like Beijing and Tianjin and smaller ones, have relied on the project as a major water source.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): SHI HAIFENG, Deputy Director of Science and Technology Development Department, China South-to-North Water Diversion Co., Ltd.
"For thousands of years, there have been a lot of floods in summer and droughts in winter -- deficient water in the north and abundant water in the south of China. The South-to-North Water Diversion Project has turned from an auxiliary source into a major source of water in areas along the project. It plays an important role in organizing circulation of water resources, providing safe water for the people, improving the eco-environment of the river and the lake, and promoting the economic circulation between the south and the north." 

The two routes benefitted over 176 million people and replenished 10 billion cubic meters of water for ecological purposes. 

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): PHILIPPE GOURBESVILLE, President of International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research
"The idea is to try to balance the unbalanced distribution of the water resources of China. Obviously, some big cities, especially in the north of China and agricultural activities are suffering to the lack of water. So there is a deficit of water in the north part of China and the vision that was pushed almost 70 years ago was to try to balance the situation by importing and transferring some water from the south of China to the north to try to cover the needs. And obviously right now, after many years of work and great achievements, it has to be underlined. Now, the situation is improving. The transfer which is operating in the east and the middle routes is very successful providing support to the activities and we see already the benefit for the citizens, for the cities in China."

SOUNDBITE 3 (English): GABRIEL E. ECKSTEIN,  Professor and Director, Texas A&M University School of Law
"Because in the north you have a very dry environment. You also have a very strong, strong agricultural base there, so trying to provide more water for the north to sustain the environment."

SOUNDBITE 4 (Chinese): LI YUNLING, Ministry of Water Resources of PRC
"Previously, some cities along the project heavily depended on excessive groundwater extraction to meet their daily water supply needs. Now, since the implementation of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project, they have used the transferred water for urban purposes, and some groundwater is replenished. This shift has enhanced our city's water quality, and brought positive changes to the surrounding environment."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Beijing.
(XHTV)