The theme of the Forum is “Yangtze River and regional development” with the officials and representatives from different ministries, governmental agencies and People’s Government of 11 Provinces/Autonomous
Region/Municipality directly under the Central Government in the Yangtze River Basin and other international organizations. The participants discussed the hot issues on development, management and protection of the Yangtze River, covering the sub-themes of “the theory and practice of integrated river basin management”, “river regime control and coastline utilization”, “climate change and water resources management”, “water ecology protection and restoration” and “enterprises”. The Nanjing Declaration of the Fourth
TheYangtze River Forum was announced as the one of the outcomes.
GWP China is one of initiators of the forum. Mr. Khalid Mohtadullah, Senior Advisor of GWP was invited to the meeting. Prof. Dong Zheren, Standing Vice Chair of GWP China who is also the Chair of Advisory Team of EU-China River Basin Management Programme(RBMP), in addition to participate in the Forum, also attended the EU-China Water Resources Exchange Platform meeting before the Forum. At the meeting, Prof. Dong discussed with others about the progress achieved and the follow-up after the programme ends. In addition, he also stressed that GWP by virtue of its open network is able to promote the dissemination of the EU-China RBMP. At the WWF’s invitation, Mr. Zheng Rugang, Coordinator of GWP China, after participating in the plenary sessions of the Forum on April 18, in the side-event of “enterprises” on April 19.