China should strengthen the protection and development of its water resources under the guidance of a "scientific development concept," said Jiang Zhenghua, vice chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, on Tuesday.

Jiang said the world economy grew at a tremendous speed in the 20th century. The global economic output value in the past 100 years was 30 times as much as the gross output of all the previous centuries.

Yet many natural resources are drying up as the economy rapidly grows. The official said water resources are in great shortage in China and the problem became more and more obvious as China's economy soared in the past decades.

The latest statistics of the Ministry of Water Resources said in China, the per capita possession of water resources are 2300 cubic meters, one quarter of the world average.

Jiang said the CPC central committee and the State Council have made policies and taken measures on the protection of China's water resources.

In view of the unbalanced distribution of China's water resources, the official said it is important to promote the coordinated development of China's major rivers.

Jiang said many China's rivers are originated from the western part, who added that the protection and harness of the water resources in west China will of significance to ensure the security and quality of water in China.

(Xinhua News Agency April 13, 2005)