China has unveiled a comprehensive action plan to protect and restore rivers and lakes from 2025 to 2027, aiming to improve the quality of aquatic ecosystems and set the foundation for achieving “beautiful rivers and lakes” nationwide by 2035. The plan was jointly released by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and other key government departments.
The initiative establishes phased goals: notable progress by 2030, with full implementation targeted by 2035. According to Liu Jing, deputy director of the ministry’s Department of Water Ecology and Environment, “beautiful rivers and lakes” must meet criteria across water resources, water ecology, and water environment. “Rivers with flowing water,” he explained, should have stable sources of replenishment, consistent flow, and guaranteed ecological water use.
Liu emphasized that for water ecology, it is essential to restore buffer zones, preserve biodiversity, and support the return of native species, thereby achieving "rivers with fish and aquatic plants." On water environment standards, pollutant discharge must be tightly controlled, water quality significantly improved, and public concerns about waterfront spaces and ecological impact addressed, enabling “harmonious coexistence between people and water.”
The plan includes 19 targeted measures focusing on pollution control, ecological water use, and integrated governance across entire river basins. It promotes science-based management and mandates better coordination between water resources, ecology, and environment.
A total of 2,573 water bodies have been listed for protection and restoration, including over 6,300 kilometres of the Yangtze River and 5,400 kilometres of the Yellow River. These include major rivers, key tributaries, lakes, and reservoirs with ecological significance or high public interest.
Pilot programs in the Yangtze River Basin have tested aquatic ecology assessments for three years, with similar efforts expanding to the Yellow River Basin. By 2027, the plan expects to improve the aquatic biological integrity index in the Yangtze and curb biodiversity loss in the Yellow River, while launching ecological compensation mechanisms in key basins.
To support implementation, the plan calls for enhanced scientific research, innovation, and technology transfer. Central government funding will be backed by local budgets and private investment, with mechanisms like third-party pollution treatment and service-based procurement to encourage social capital participation.
Officials said the initiative marks a new phase in China's water governance, shifting from pollution control toward a more integrated approach. “It is a milestone, following the 2015 Action Plan for Prevention and Control of Water Pollution,” said Liu Jing. “This plan integrates the management of water resources, water environment and water ecology.” Gao Hongjie, director of the Institute of Water Ecology and Environment, added that the plan signals a phase focused on quality and efficiency.
