Hangzhou, China, and Nuremberg, Germany, are two cities that were born and prospered by water, and water environment protection is particularly important here. What kind of sparks will come out of the dialogue between the Shangtang River in Hangzhou and the Pegnitz River in Nurem

Hangzhou, China and Nuremberg, Germany are two cities that were born and prospered by water. Water environment protection is particularly important here. What kind of sparks will come out of the dialogue between the Shangtang River in Hangzhou and the Pegnitz River in Nuremberg? On July 9, the 2022 Sino-German Dialogue on Water Control and the International Symposium on "Water Science Education for the Future" was held simultaneously in Hangzhou and Nuremberg via live broadcast. Young people from the two places discussed the use and protection of water resources in urban rivers. issues, increase the attention and participation of young people from China and Germany in urban water resources and river governance, and provide new ideas for water environment governance and protection while exchanging policies, education and other fields between the two countries.

This event was organized by Hangzhou Association for Science and Technology, Hangzhou Municipal Water Control Office, Zhejiang Qiantang River Basin Center, Zhejiang Association for Science and Technology Resources and Environment Society, Nuremberg Water Management Office, Confucius Institute Nuremberg-Erlangen, Germany, Hans Sponsored by the Seidel Foundation from China and Germany, Linping District Water Control Office, Linping District Science and Technology Association, Green Zhejiang, Hangzhou Ecological Culture Association, Linping District Nanyuan Street Office, Linping District Nanyuan Street Organized by Longxing Community and Sino Education.

The event was co-hosted by Xin Hao, executive vice president of the Hangzhou Ecological Culture Association, and Christian Büttner, director of the Nuremberg Institute of Education and School Psychology.

Shangtang River Dialogue Pegnitz River

Shangtang River is the first artificially dug canal in the history of Hangzhou. It has a history of two thousand years. It is the main river connecting Hangzhou City and Linping, and is the mother river of Linping District. It is also an important part of the world cultural heritage Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.

When introducing the Shangtang River, Zhang Lichun, full-time deputy director of the Linping District Water Control Office, said that in recent years, Hangzhou has strengthened river management, which has significantly improved the water quality of the Shangtang River that once deteriorated due to industrial development. Subsequent government departments will continue to carry out National water control and water protection activities, strengthening the operation and maintenance of pipe network facilities, keeping riverbank water bodies clean, and orderly carrying out ecological water replenishment will promote the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The Pegnitz River is the mother river of Nuremberg, running through the old city center of Nuremberg. There are many wooden and masonry covered bridges on the river spanning both sides.

Ulrich Fitzthum, director of the Nuremberg Water Management Office, said that the Pegnitz River outside Nuremberg is very romantic and many people play in it. After flowing into the city, the Pegnitz River was stored to form the Whrder See Dam, but the lake was muddy. For this reason, the government has widely adopted citizens' suggestions in the past ten years and taken many measures to clean, remove and recycle the sludge, making Pegnitz a Cihe is full of new vitality.

Water Resources Challenge Dialogue

In order to further explore and learn from the experience of China and Germany in protecting and utilizing urban river water resources, China and Germany conducted in-depth exchanges on pollution response, public participation, river function, disaster prevention and reduction, etc., at While answering questions about water resources protection and management, we can share experiences and insights on water resource utilization with each other, and work together to seek common development.

"Better Rivers" initiative

Zu Jihong, full-time deputy director of the Hangzhou Municipal Water Control Office, said that although China and Germany are thousands of miles apart, and Hangzhou and Nuremberg are rooted in different histories and cultures, the youth of the two places have the goal of building a beautiful home together. Consistent, sharing the same language of yearning for a happy life. Taking the river twinning as an opportunity, the two sides can further strengthen exchanges in the field of water control and let the fragrance of friendship spread thousands of miles. Ulrich Fitzthum also expressed that he is looking forward to more extensive and in-depth cooperation and exchanges with China in the future.

Water is the source of life and represents spirituality. The endless stretch of the river represents the continuation of Sino-German friendship, and the rushing blend of the rivers symbolizes the exchange and development of Sino-German culture. Hu Naili, a member of the Party Committee of the Zhejiang Qiantang River Basin Center, and Shen Liang, secretary-general of the Hangzhou Association for Science and Technology and director of the Institute, held up the "Rivers" poster close to the German "Better". "Better Rivers" were spliced ​​together, meaning "Better Rivers" "The river carries the fire of civilization between China and Germany. I wish the cooperation and exchanges between the two parties will last forever."

Source: Hangzhou Association for Science and Technology