Songhua River Pollution Stunting Development, ADB Official Tells Workshop

HARBIN, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA - Pollution levels in the Songhua River are impairing natural resources and economic development in northeastern People's Republic of China (PRC), ADB's chief representative in the country told a workshop today.

Addressing management of water resources and environmental pollution are crucial to promoting successful economic development in the PRC, Toru Shibuichi told an international workshop on Revitalizing Northeast China and Promoting Investment in Harbin.

The two issues are "directly linked to successful and sustainable economic development" and highly relevant to the Northeastern provinces, he said.

"In the last five years, Songhua River water management has become a long-term focus of ADB assistance," he said.

ADB is supporting projects on flood damage rehabilitation and flood management, wetland protection, and water supply in Harbin, he pointed out. ADB has also supported a Jilin Water Supply and Sewerage Development Project to directly address pollution control in the basin.

"With the uncertainty about the extent of Songhua River Basin [SRB] pollution and its clean-up, a thorough study of the situation in the SRB to find appropriate mid and long-term responses to the SRB pollution has been recommended," he said.

A $1 million technical assistance (TA) project which has been completed, was designed to focus on Government priorities for the SRB related to water quality and pollution control management.

Building on a high level of cooperation and coordination with various central and provincial government agencies, the TA has developed a long-term vision and investment plan for the river basin and strengthened key organizations responsible for pollution control and management.

"The disaster that recently happened now further underscores the importance of implementing the recommendations in the TA study," Mr. Shibuichi said. "Had it happened a few months later, SRB might have already been able to respond in a joint cross-boundary manner."

The one-day workshop was jointly organized by the Ministry of Finance, Heilongjiang Provincial Government, the Office of Revitalizing Northeast of the State Council, the World Bank, and in association with ADB.

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