- Water, Nature and Humankind
- K-water Focus ②
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Asian Countries Meet to Solve
Water IssuesThe 2nd AIWW
- Written by Choi Haeng-jwa
- Photographs: K-water
- The whole world observed the 2nd Asia International Water Week, Asia's largest international conference on water, which was successfully hosted by K-water to seek solutions to urgent water issues in Asia
K-water, Solving Asian Water Issues
The 2nd Asia International Water Week(AIWW) was held in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia from March 14-16. The AIWW, Asia's key water-related international conference, is held every three years by the Asia Water Council, the largest water cooperation council in Asia.
The 2nd AIWW was held under the banner of ‘Sustainable, Clean, and Sufficient Water for All’ by the Asia Water Council and K-water. It was attended by high-ranking Korean figures such as Han Jeong-ae, Minister of Environment, Park Jae-hyun, President of the Asian Water Council(President of K-water), Ban Ki-moon, 8th UN Secretary-General, and lawmaker Byeon Jae-il, as well as Ma'ruf Amin, Vice-President of Indonesia, and ministers, vice-ministers, and congressmen from various Asian countries including Kyrgyzstan, Sri Lanka, and Uzbekistan, both online and offline.
During the opening ceremony, the ‘From Asia to World Statement’ was announced, urging countries to cooperate and respond to global water issues and the climate crisis. The plenary session covered the ‘Smart-Eco City in the New Capital of Indonesia’ and introduced Korea's multi-functional administrative city and the Busan Eco-Delta Smart City. A total of 24 sessions on Asian water issues and the Water Project Business Forum were held to find ways to solve urgent water issues in Asia and jointly respond to the climate crisis. In addition, K-water signed an MoC was signed with PJT2, a public water company in Indonesia, to build partnerships for capacity building in water management, an MOU for cooperation on water resources in the new capital, and an LoI for cooperation on floating solar power(Korean Ministry of Environment – Indonesian Ministry of Public Works and Housing).
The Korean Minister of Environment, Han Jeong-ae, said, “Asia is very vulnerable to water issues such as floods and droughts caused by climate change. This AIWW presents us with a golden opportunity to discuss water management measures in Asia and to achieve carbon neutrality through the green recovery of each country.” The 3rd AIWW will be held in China in 2024.
The IECC Takes the Lead in the Nationally Determined Contribution(NDC)
K-water, which operates the IECC(International Environmental Cooperation Center) on behalf of the Korean government, held the special session on the Green New Deal ODA before the closing ceremony of the 2nd AIWW. It was attended by 130 officials, including Han Jeong-ae, Korean Minister of Environment, and Basuki Hadimuljono, Indonesian Minister of Public Works and Housing. The special session introduced Korea's Green New Deal ODA policy and the roles and directions of the IECC.
The IECC is responsible for achieving 10% of the overseas target of NDC, and will expand the Green New Deal ODA to that end.
Hosting the ‘Korea-Mekong Special Session’
The Korea-Mekong Water Management Collaboration Research Center(KMCRC) of K-water hosted the Korea-Mekong Special Session at the 2nd AIWW, which was attended by the Korean Minister of Environment, the CEO of the Mekong River Commission(MRC), and representatives of four countries of the MRC, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam.
The Mekong River has suffered from diverse problems related to climate change, drought, floods, and deteriorating water quality. In 2019, K-water established the KMCRC for cooperation with the Mekong River area, the key area of the New Southern Policy of Korea.
During the special session, the participants held discussions on how to cooperate in terms of water resources between Korea and Mekong countries, introduced the KMCRC's achievements, and shared new project suggestions. Subsequently, USAID, the Korean Ministry of Environment, and KMCRC signed a letter of intent for cooperation on integrated water management and a water supply project. The Expo PR booth was also operated to share the vision and achievements of the KMCRC.
In the future, K-water will strive to launch the Korea-Mekong International Water Forum for the sustainable development of the KMCRC and to share visions, technologies, information, networks, and insights.
