Xi Jinping Holds Talks with President of Portugal

On April 29, 2019, President Xi Jinping held talks with President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal in Beijing.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Portugal are each other’s important strategic partners. The bilateral relations are characterized by prominent strategic significance, high complementarity in interests, and strong economic complementarity. Standing at a new historical starting point, the two sides should work together to develop a comprehensive strategic partnership at a higher level that has broader vision and greater vitality. China regards Portugal as an important partner in the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Xi Jinping also emphasized that this year marks the 20th anniversary of Macao’s return to China. Since its return to the motherland, Macao has scored remarkable achievements as a result of fully implementing the policies of “one country, two systems” and the people of Macao governing Macao, and a high degree of autonomy.

Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said that we should translate the longstanding friendship between the two countries into a future-oriented partnership. We are full of confidence in the future of our nations’ bilateral relations. The Portuguese side stands ready to deepen connections with China and expand third-party market cooperation.

The National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Water Resources released an action plan on April 15 to tighten water consumption.

According to the plan, by 2020, water consumption per RMB 10,000 (US $1,487) of GDP is expected to drop by 23 percent from that in 2015, with a 20 percent reduction in the amount of water used to produce RMB 10,000 industrial added value.

In addition, China’s overall water consumption will be controlled at no more than 670 billion cubic meters by 2022 with improved conservation. By 2035, the figure will be kept below 700 billion cubic meters, with water conservation and recycling having reached a world-leading level.

The plan sets six key tasks, including control of overall water consumption, reducing agricultural, industrial, and urban use of water, and technological innovation. In the meantime, the measures of establishing water prices and cultivating a competitive service market will be implemented to deepen reform. The plan encourages private capital to join and expand financing channels.

China has a chronic water shortage, facing a shortfall of 50 billion cubic meters of fresh water each year. In the meantime, public awareness of conserving water and preventing waste has to be improved.