It was learned from Jiangsu Provincial Department of Water Resources that Jiangsu Province has been selected in the third batch of provincial-level water network pilot areas by the Ministry of Water Resources.

Major strategic plans such as speeding up the development of national water networks, building a modern and high-quality water conservancy infrastructure network, and solving the problems of water resources, water ecology, water environment and water disasters via holistic methods have been made by the CPC Central Committee. Jiangsu is located in the middle of the eastern coastal area of China, adjacent to rivers and the sea, and houses the Huaihe River basin and many lakes. Jiangsu is a pioneer in forming a water network framework and in developing a modern water network in China. The Yangtze River, Huaihe River, East Route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project and other national water networks have their main skeletons and arteries running through the whole province. The special geographical location and water system layout determine that Jiangsu’s water network plays an important role in the national water network layout. As a provincial-level water network pilot area of the Ministry of Water Resources, Jiangsu will serve to build a new development paradigm, take high-quality water conservancy development as the primary task, adhere to the principle of “acting only when necessary, upholding ecological safety and ensuring sustainability” for the study and demonstration of major water conservancy projects, comprehensively promote the construction of major water network projects such as the second phase of Huaihe River waterway and Wusong River regulation, and improve the overall layout of water network in Jiangsu. Efforts will be made for further progress in the construction of major water network projects, functional integration and coordination, ecological restoration of rivers and lakes, digital empowerment, safe and accurate management and control, and the guarantee of investment. Jiangsu will actively explore the path of modern water network development in plain areas covered with river networks and play the role as a pacesetter in this field.