Throughout Chinese history uneven and unreliable distribution of water has been a challenge. Providing access to sufficient water supply as well as flood control is regarded as essential for regional economic development and social stability. It is widely acknowledged that China’s technological achievements in water conservation and developing hydropower supported the tremendous improvement of agricultural productivity as well as the rapid industrial and urban development. It is however also obvious that water use is often far from sustainable. Whereas many regions in Chinas are confronted with serious water shortages and deteriorating water quality others have to deal with social and political conflicts related to the construction of large dams and management of interregional and transboundary rivers. In this workshop international experts assess China’s water risks and recent efforts in water governance.

Presentations include:

• Eva Sternfeld: Introduction
• Miriam Seeger (Staatsbibliothek Berlin): "Productive landscapes: a cultural historical view on dams and river control in China"
• Jia Shaofeng, (Director of Water Resources Institute, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Research, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing): “An assessment of the sustainability of water use of China.”
• Sabrina Habich (FU Berlin, Institute of Sinology): „Crisis mode in China’s water politics“
• James Nickum (Centre for Water and Development (SOAS, London), former Editor-in Chief of Water International): “Water economies of Chinese global cities”
• Bettina Bluemling (University of Utrecht): China's agricultural water management in transition - smart technology - smart governance?
• Seungho Lee (Graduate School for International Studies, Korea University, Seoul): “China and the Mekong River Countries: Collaboration for Shared Benefit?”

If you wish to participate, please send an email to: anmeldung@konfuziusinstitut-berlin.de