A Chinese forum on the environmental resource law, sponsored by the Ministry of Water Conservancy, the Chinese society of environmental resource law and the Chinese Marine University was held in Qingdao, Shandong Province.

The forum discussed questions concerning water resource, water environment and the stipulation of the water bill.

The scientists who attended the forum maintained that water resource and water environment management must conform to the demand of the time so as to guarantee a sustainable development of the economy and the society. It is of great importance to study the major questions relating to the water resource and environment from a multi-disciplinary approach, to reinforce the legal enforcement of the water bill and raise the management level for the rational, effective, orderly and sustainable use of water resource. It is imperative to broaden the horizon of understanding in stipulating the water bill so as to cope with the economic development in the future.

They held that in the relations between population, resource, environment and development there are still many questions to be studied and tackled.

They said that special attention should be paid to water right, water price, and the construction of water market system. People should study questions relating to the bearability of the water environment, the construction and perfection of the water resource management system, the management over the rural and urban integrated water affairs and the enforcement of the water bill. They said that all these called for coordination of efforts of all sides and levels.

(www.cenew.com.cn August 7, 2003)