The International Water Pioneers Summit was held today in Hong Kong, attracting around 5,000 participants either on-site or online.
Themed “Smart Water‧High-Quality Development”, the summit assembled political and industry leaders, experts, academics, senior government officials and other stakeholders to explore new opportunities for collaboration in the water supply sector.
Chief Executive John Lee, Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying, Guangdong Governor Wang Weizhong, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Director Zheng Yanxion, Leadership Office of the Hong Kong & Macao Work Office Member Xiang Bin, Deputy Financial Secretary Michael Wong, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong SAR Deputy Director Qi Bin, Guangdong Vice Governor Zhang Shaokang and Secretary for Development Bernadette Linn all officiated at the summit’s opening ceremony.
Giving an address, Mr Lee remarked that the summit brought together high-profile professionals and senior government officials from Hong Kong, the Mainland, elsewhere in Asia and around the world to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Dongjiang supplying water to Hong Kong.
The chief executive said that innovation in infrastructure development will power a sustainable, water-secure future, and stressed that Hong Kong will play its part as an international infrastructure centre that serves the needs of the country.
Participants discussed spearheading digital transformation in the water supply sector to help secure healthy water for the benefit of mankind, in addition to co-ordinating knowledge and experience to promote cross-boundary and cross-sector innovation and collaboration.
Topics covered included the water supply sector’s high-quality development, water safety, and water security under the Belt & Road Initiative.
The summit also demonstrated China’s advanced technologies and experience in various aspects of water supply, and the contributions of Chinese culture in the application of water resources.