Tian Xuebin, Vice Minister of Water Resources of China, makes remarks at the launching ceremony of a book on water education. Photo: Courtesy of IWHR

To celebrate the World Water Day 2021 on Monday, China introduced its latest experience in water resource scientific management to developing countries and the international community with the release of an animated book on water education for youngsters. 

The English version of the book, compiled by the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research and released on Monday, aims to enrich the knowledge of water resources and promote the value of scientific water use to children and teenagers in developing countries.

The book will be introduced into primary and secondary schools in more countries that participate in the Belt and Road Initiative in Africa, Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe, under the support of the International Hydrological Program of UNESCO. This project will enable more students to understand the water goals of the United Nations for sustainable development by 2030 as well as the potential challenges.

It took six years to compile the book, which will be first used in primary and secondary schools in Africa, especially in eastern African countries, to share China's successful experience in water protection and conservation with local youth.

As of 2017, 2.2 billion people around the world lacked access to safe drinking water, and about 720 million lived in areas with severe water shortages. China has made efforts in ensuring that poor areas have full access to safe drinking water, and has implemented a national water saving plan amid those challenges, Tian Xuebin, Vice Minister of Water Resources of China, said on Monday at the launch of the book.

China has constantly strengthened cross-border cooperation on water resources in recent years in "innovative, opening and sharing ways," Tian said.

The launch of the English version of the book fully reflects the common willingness of the Chinese government and UNESCO to make positive contributions to global water education, Tian noted.

Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences of UNESCO addresses at the book launching ceremony. Photo: Courtesy of IWHR

Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, UNESCO's Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences , mentioned she expects that the vivid and inspiring stories in the book will attract African students, teachers and communities to work together to improve water education in Africa.

Ann Therese Ndong-Jatta, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa, said that water is an indispensable element in the process of achieving sustainable development in the continent, and education on science can instill the awareness of water conservation and care in the minds of young people, which is an effective way to deal with today's water challenges.

She said she is looking forward to the release of editions of the book in more languages worldwide.

Launching ceremony of the English version of the book Water Education for kids Photo: Courtesy of IWHR