World Bank approved loans worth $600 million to manage China’s water resources

Beijing. June 8. Silkroadnews - The World Bank said it approved three loans worth $600 million to improve water resources management in China, SINA.com reports.
According to the bank, the loans will be used to improve services in the field of water supply and wastewater treatment and adopt integrated regulation of water pollution and functioning of watersheds in the provinces of Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Liaoning.
The projects will be aimed at supporting local efforts to “adopt innovations and international good practices to improve water management and services, increase resilience to climate change, and ensure water security,” Bekele Debele, head of the World Bank’s Sustainable Development Program for China, said.
A loan of $150 million will be directed to implementation of the project on water resources and environmental protection of the Qiandao Lake and the Xin’an River basin in Zhejiang.
Another $200 million will be spent on integrated rural and urban water supply and the sewage management project in Jiangxi to benefit nearly 2.26 million people in seven counties.
Liaoning Province will receive a loan of $250 million for a safe and sustainable urban water supply project for the benefit of 5.69 million people in five cities.
“Water scarcity is one of the most pressing challenges to China’s sustainable development. While water pollution imposes serious economic, ecological, and health-related costs, urban-rural gaps also remain in the coverage of basic water services,” Debele said.
The statement says, the World Bank and China have established a strong partnership in the water sector to address political and institutional issues, test new approaches and share experiences with other countries.