China and the Asia Development Bank (ADB) have launched comprehensive cooperation in China's water resources management since the late 1990's and ADB admired the achievements China has scored in the area, according to a senior ADB official.

Binsar Tambunan, project specialist of Agriculture, Environment and Natural Resources Division under ADB, said in Zhengzhou of Henan Province at the ongoing international forum on the Yellow River that nowadays, ADB has focused its efforts on the improvement of inter-regional environmental management in China.

According to Tambunan, ADB has financed technical assistance for establishing a pollution early-warning system, an emergency management system and a water quality supervision system at the Yellow River basin.

"Because ADB's most important objective is poverty reduction, we actively look for ways to reduce poverty. Effectively addressing land degradation and conserving natural resources for future generations is a key priority for ADB," he added.

(Xinhua News Agency October 23, 2003)