The 7th China-Africa Water Forum was held in Windhoek, capital of Namibia, from 22 to 27 July, 2019. Hosted by the China-Africa Water Association (CAWA) and organized by the Namibian Water Resources Association, the conference brought together renowned domestic and foreign universities, research institutions and international enterprises.
Participating academic bodies included China University of Geosciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sichuan University, Wuhan University, Taiyuan University of Technology, Africa Water Resources and Environment Research Institute of Hebei University of Engineering, the Namibian Water Resources Association and the French National Institute for Environment and Agricultural Science. Attending enterprises covered China Overseas Infrastructure Development & Investment Corporation (COIDIC), China ENFI Engineering Corporation, TYLI China, South Africa’s GCS Company and other globally recognized engineering firms.
Zhang Yiming, Chinese Ambassador to Namibia, attended the forum and delivered a speech. He noted that water scarcity is a shared challenge confronting numerous countries worldwide. Rational exploitation and efficient utilization of water resources have become an urgent global priority closely tied to people’s wellbeing. He expressed hopes that the China-Africa Water Forum platform could facilitate the translation of abundant scientific research achievements into tangible projects, thereby advancing common development between China and Africa.
Centered on the theme Mitigating Water Risks Through Sustainable Water Resources Management in Developing Countries, the forum carried out in-depth discussions across five thematic areas:
Mitigation of Water Supply Risks
Based on analyses of water resources conditions in China and Africa, as well as Chinese practical cases concerning ecological operation of reservoir groups and hydrological model validation, participants elaborated on optimized water allocation schemes, hierarchical water resource simulation via modelling tools and refined water resource characterization technologies. Such approaches prove instrumental in boosting the efficiency of water utilization.
Water Resources Management and Sustainable Development
Cases were shared regarding groundwater management models adopted in China and Africa, groundwater exploitation in arid zones, groundwater recharge via agricultural irrigation ecosystems, urban water governance, and aquifer recharge management under drought conditions. Exchanges focused on the transformation and recharge mechanisms between surface water and groundwater under diverse circumstances, alongside patterns of groundwater replenishment driven by agricultural irrigation.
Migration and Diffusion of Water Pollutants
Drawing on Sino-African experiences in soil pollutant transport, pollution remediation and environmental policy formulation, experts showcased technologies for groundwater pollution treatment and restoration, research methodologies tracing pollutant movement within soil media, and policy frameworks designed to safeguard vulnerable groundwater systems.
Exploration and Development of Groundwater Resources
Practical cases of groundwater development and utilization in China and Africa were presented, covering sustainable exploitation of aquifers, groundwater prospecting in bedrock formations, and technical solutions for sustainable rural water supply systems.
Impacts of Climate Change on Regional Droughts and Floods
Through studies on atmospheric variations across China and Africa, remote sensing applications and karst water governance, the forum illustrated technical approaches for identifying climate change patterns, analyzing regional evapotranspiration trends, and regulating ecological spring backflow in karst terrains.
Beyond the five themed sessions, experts engaged in extensive exchanges on seawater desalination, artificial precipitation stimulation, water-saving irrigation agriculture, water recycling and water purification technologies. Field investigations were also arranged during the conference.
Serving as a vital bridge for Sino-African exchanges and cooperation in water resources as well as the integration of industry, academia and research, the China-Africa Water Forum has vigorously promoted in-depth bilateral communication and collaborative development in the water sector between China and Africa in the years following the event.