1. Full Name
The Professional Committee on Water Rights and Water Markets of the Global Water Partnership China, hereinafter referred to as the "Committee."
2. Nature and Role
The Committee is a branch of the the Global Water Partnership China (GWP China), serving as a practical base and collaborative platform in the field of water rights and water markets.
3. Host Institute and Secretariat
Hunan Provincial Research Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower
Address: No. 370 Shaoshan North Road, Changsha City, Hunan Province, China.
4. Date of Establishment: March 31, 2025.
5. Historical Background
- On March 31, 2025, the preparatory group convened a meeting in Changsha to review and adopt the Committee's working regulations, and to elect the Chair, Vice Chairs, and Secretary-General.
- On April 1, 2025, the Committee was officially inaugurated in Changsha, Hunan. The ceremony was chaired by Yang Mingwei, President of the Hunan Provincial Research Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower. Attendees included Jiang Yunzhong, Executive Secretary of GWP China; Zeng Yang, Member of the Party Leadership Group and Deputy Director of the Hunan Provincial Department of Water Resources; and He Dahua, Director of the Water Resources Division of the Hunan Provincial Department of Water Resources.
6. Leadership Structure
- Honorary Chair: Prof. Zuo Qiting, Zhengzhou University
- Chair: Sheng Dong, Chief Engineer of the Hunan Provincial Research Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower
- Vice Chairs:
- Chen Genfa, Senior Engineer, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research
- Chang Fuxuan, Senior Engineer, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute
- Liu Fengli, Senior Engineer, Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute
- Li Ainian, Second-Level Professor, Hunan Normal University
- Dou Ming, Second-Level Professor, Zhengzhou University
- Xie Changqing, Deputy General Manager, Hunan Provincial Water Transport Construction and Investment Group Co., Ltd.
- Yang Jialiang, Chief Planner, Hunan Provincial Hydropower Planning, Design, and Research Institute
- Xu Xibin, Chairman, Dayu Water-Saving Group Southwest Headquarters
- Secretary-General: He Huaiguang, Director of the Hunan Provincial Research Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower
Host Institution of the Secretariat: Hunan Provincial Research Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower
7. Responsibilities
(1) Promote Water Rights and Water Markets: Advance water rights and market development, facilitate practical applications of research outcomes, integrate water resource management with economic growth, and provide platforms for academic research and technological innovation.
(2) Build Collaborative Networks: Leverage global partnerships to strengthen domestic and international cooperation among water-related organizations, research institutions, universities, and management agencies, fostering the growth of water rights and water markets.
(3) Organize Academic Exchanges: Host at least one annual academic event to promote knowledge sharing, dialogue, and the transformation of research into practical solutions.
8. Impact and Contributions
The Committee optimizes water resource allocation and standardizes water rights trading through policy research, market transformation, and technological innovation. Key initiatives include exploring regional water rights trading, water extraction rights pledges, ensuring fair and transparent transactions, and innovating water ecological product valuation systems. It supports green finance (e.g., "Water Extraction Loans") for ecological projects, enhances water-use efficiency to benefit farmers and ecological protection, and diversifies trading models to drive industrial upgrades. Moving forward, the Committee will address challenges such as information asymmetry and cross-regional coordination, deepen digital platforms and green finance integration, and unlock the potential of water resource management reforms to achieve ecological, economic, and social synergies.