The same day witnessed the Grand Launch Ceremony of the Conference, along with the Seminar on Water Rights Trading and the Value Enhancement of Water Ecological Products, hosted by GWP China and co-organized by the Hunan Provincial Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, GWP China Hunan, and the newly established Professional Committee. Over 120 attendees, including prominent experts, scholars, and representatives from government bodies, enterprises, and institutions in the water resources sector, participated. Key dignitaries in attendance were Jiang Yunzhong, Regional Executive Secretary of GWP China; Zeng Yang, Deputy Director-General of the Hunan Provincial Department of Water Resources; He Dahua, Director of the Water Resources Division of the same department; and Yang Mingwei, President of the Hunan Provincial Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research.
Jiang Yunzhong
The conference began with Jiang Yunzhong announcing the committee's establishment and delivering a keynote address. He emphasized the committee's mission, revealed the election results of its inaugural leadership team, and outlined three key aspirations: aligning with national priorities, pursuing practical solutions, and fostering transparent collaboration. Following this, Zeng Yang and Jiang jointly unveiled the committee's plaque, and appointment letters were presented to its initial leadership representatives.
Zeng Yang
In his speech, Zeng Yang congratulated the committee on its establishment, describing it as a pivotal moment in advancing China's water rights and market reforms towards specialization and systematization. He urged the committee to strengthen academic-policy synergies, foster cross-sector innovation, and develop globally renowned "Chinese theories, solutions, and pathways" for water rights and market reforms.
Yang Mingwei
The seminar on Water Rights Trading and the Value Enhancement of Water Ecological Products featured in-depth discussions by renowned scholars on various topics:
Moderated by Sheng Dong
Prof. Zuo Qiting (Zhengzhou University) discussed research needs for water resource management systems, covering positioning, simulation, evaluation, and regulation. Researcher Jiang Wenlai (Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences) analyzed water rights transactions, examining attributes, market characteristics, value determination, and implementation pathways. Prof. Shen Dajun (Renmin University of China) reviewed China's water rights framework, current advancements, and future directions. Senior Engineer Zhang Yanping (China Water Rights Exchange) shared practical experiences in water rights trading.
Representatives from provincial institutes, including Yunnan and Anhui, exchanged reform practices. Additionally, Li Bin, Deputy Secretary of Mayang County, and Xie Yongsheng, President of Dayu Water-saving Group, presented case studies on water rights reforms and asset value transformation in irrigation districts.
In the afternoon, attendees visited the Tongrenqiao Irrigation District in Changsha County to observe Hunan's pioneering practices in water rights reforms, trading mechanisms, and farmer water-user association management.
This conference marked a new era for academic collaboration and synergistic innovation in water rights and markets, propelling China's water trading development and ecological value enhancement. Under the committee's guidance, stakeholders aim to unite, address water management challenges, and promote sustainable water resource utilization.