The World Water Council (WWC) is ready for China's membership, WWC President Loic Fauchon said here Saturday evening.

During his meeting with Chinese Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei on the sideline of the 5th World Water Forum, Fauchon said he welcomes China to "the WWC family," and "we are ready to sign the agreement" which just need a few days to finalize the details of the pact.

"We need your experience and your tradition, It will be a nice relation," he added.

Chen said China is willing to participate WWC activities and China will shoulder the obligation and responsibility when it becomes a member.

Chen invited the president to visit Beijing. Fauchon said he is glad to visit the Chinese capital in May or June, when the both sides are expected to ink the pact.

WWC, created by a number of key water institutions in 1996, unites over 300 member organizations from more than 60 countries. It is an international multi-stakeholder platform "to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels." 　

(Xinhua News Agency March 22, 2009)