From August 19 to 21, 2026, Symposium on Efficient Water Resources Utilization in Arid Regions was successfully held in Ordos. The Symposium was hosted by Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI) and co-organized by Ordos Municipal Water Resources Bureau, Ordos Municipal Science and Technology Bureau, Research Center for Climate Change of Ministry of Water Resources (MWR), China and MWR Innovation Center for Efficient Development and Utilization of Unconventional Water.

Distinguished experts invited to the Symposium included ZHANG Jianyun, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) and Director of NHRI Science and Technology Committee, FENG Qi, Academician of CAE, President of Lanzhou Branch, the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and President of Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, CAS, YANG Derui, former Director-General of Department of Water Resources Management, MWR, and LIU Tingxi, former Vice President of Inner Mongolia Agricultural University. PAN Junning, Vice President of NHRI, attended the event and delivered a welcome address on behalf of the host.

In his remarks, Vice President PAN Junning stated that the Symposium, with a focus on efficient utilization of water resources and water security in arid regions under changing environmental conditions, would provide a platform for in-depth exchanges on topics including the protection of groundwater–river–lake composite systems, the evolution and regulation of coupled water–ecology–energy–food systems, and the efficient utilization of water resources in arid regions. He expressed his hope that the Symposium would further strengthen collaboration among NHRI, other research institutions, universities, water management authorities, and local organizations, jointly promote the research and application of key technologies for water resources protection and efficient utilization in arid regions, and provide scientific and technological support for water security in arid regions and ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin.

During the Symposium, Academician ZHANG Jianyun delivered a keynote report titled Discussion on Water Resources Issues Related to the Western Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. WANG Yu, Chief Planner of the Yellow River Conservancy Commission, MWR, CAO Pengfei, Deputy Division Director of Water-Saving Promotion Center, MWR, and WANG Wenbin, General Manager of Inner Mongolia Water Conservancy and Hydropower Survey, Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., delivered invited presentations titled Research on Key Scientific and Technological Issues Related to the Yellow River Water Allocation Scheme 1987, Water-Saving Industry Development: Policies and Pathways, and Comprehensive Utilization of Water Resources and Water Diversion Projects in Arid Areas of Northern China, respectively. WANG Xiaojun, Deputy Director and Professor-level Senior Engineer of NHRI’s Department of Rural Water Utilization, chaired the opening ceremony and delivered a presentation at the Symposium as well.

The Symposium was attended by more than 120 officials, experts, and delegates from institutions including China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, General Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Planning of MWR, Institute of Pastoral Hydraulic Research of MWR, Beijing Normal University, Wuhan University, Inner Mongolia University, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Ningxia University, Chang’an University, and water-management authorities in Ordos. The participants also conducted a field visit to the demonstration project Key Technologies and Application Demonstration for Groundwater–River–Lake System Protection and Industrial Water-Adaptive Regulation and Control in the Ω Bend Area of the Yellow River, a project under the National Key R&D Program.