On August 26, 2010, Mr. Jiao Yong, Vice Minister of Water Resources, met Ms Buyelwa Patience Sonjica, Minister of Water Resources and Environmental Affairs of South Africa.

On August 26, 2010, Mr. Jiao Yong, Vice Minister of Water Resources, met Ms Buyelwa Patience Sonjica, Minister of Water Resources and Environmental Affairs of South Africa.

On behalf of the Ministry of Water Resources and Minister Chen Lei, Vice Minister Jiao conveyed his warm welcome to the South African delegation, and introduced China’s experience and solutions in the aspects of groundwater monitoring and management, water-saving construction, response towards global climate change, etc.

South Africa has serious water shortage problem, said Ms. Sonjica. With the population growth, urbanization and global warming, South Africa will be confronted with even more severe water crisis. She expressed the strong willingness to further exchange and cooperation with China in the field water management, to improve water use efficiency and guarantee food security in South Africa.

Agreement was reached to renew the MOU and set up the China-South Africa Water Steering Committee.

Officials from General Office, Department of International Cooperation, Science and Technology, Department of Planning and Programming, Department of Water Resources, Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Department of Rural Water Supply, Irrigation and Drainage also attended the meeting.