China invested more than 2 trillion yuan (about 304 billion U.S. dollars) on water projects in the five years between 2011 and 2015, official data showed. Drinking water safety, flood control, drought relief, agricultural irrigation, and rural hydropower are the areas that have benefited the most from the investment, according to the ministry of water resources.
Of the funding, 800 billion yuan went to 172 major water conservation and supply projects in the five years, the ministry said. In the past five years, major water projects were accelerated and the "strictest" management system for water resources was implemented, said Jiao Yong, vice water resources minister. In the 13th five year period from 2016 to 2020, more efforts will be made to enhance water safety and speed up reforms related to the utilization of water resources, Jiao added.
In carrying out large water projects, the ministry will continue to make full use of all available preferential financial policies, and create conditions for private capital to join so as to ensure investment in water projects grow steadily, Jiao said. A priority for the next five years will be to guide more water project investment to the poor areas, he added.
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