China's water conservancy construction scale and technology have attained advanced world standard, according to Zhang Jiyao, Vice Minister of Water Resources.

Since 1949, China has built and strengthened more than 260,000 km of dykes, and built more than 86,000 reservoirs and 4.6 million water storage and diversion projects, with annual water supply capability reaching 580 billion cubic meters; the hydro electrical installed capacity has reached more than 72.9 million kw, and annual electric power production is at a level of 2,12.9 billion kwh.

Meanwhile, water conservancy project technology has continuously improved. A group of new type dams have been widely adopted and a large group of new technologies and facilities have been popularized. The Xiaolangdi Water Control Project, whose technology is called "the most challenging," and the Three Gorges Project, the largest water control project in the world, marked the point when China's water conservancy construction scale and standard joined the ranks of world advanced nations.

(China.org.cn translated by Li Jingrong on February 10, 2003)