A model for integrated water resources management along the eastern route of the South-North Water Diversion Project is expected to be established by July 2006 thanks to a Sino-Italian cooperative program.

The water diversion project, launched in the end of 2002, aims to ease the serious drought in northern parts of China.

It includes three routes the eastern, the central and the western ones.

According to Li Ping, an expert with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the aim of the program is to study current data, administrative and legal systems and introduce international experience.

The partners will also try to establish a model for integrated water resources management along the eastern route and study how the project along that route affects local economies and communities.

The official agreement on the two-year program will be signed between the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Territory and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in July.

The Italian side will put up 3.5 million euro (US$4.3 million) to fund the program, the ministry said.

A two-day international forum on integrated river basin management and the South-North Water Diversion Project opened yesterday in Beijing.

China has been working with Italy on environmental protection for some time.

The latest example is a new building that will be constructed at Tsinghua University for environmental protection exhibitions jointly funded by the Italian Ministry for the Environment and Territory and China's Ministry of Science and Technology.

The foundation-laying ceremony is to be held today. The joint water project is aimed at finding solutions to China's growing water problem.

For example, 60 percent of the Huaihe River water, 65 percent of the Liaohe River water and 62 percent of the Yellow River water are being used and the rate for the Haihe River is as high as 90 percent.

All of the rivers are key ones in the country. It is agreed internationally that 30 to 40 percent is a warning level for water resources use.

Nearly 60 percent of the 669 cities in the country lack an appropriate supply of water and 110 face serious water shortages.

(China Daily June 8, 2004)