Enviro News Asia, Brussels — The European Union and China will seek to define concrete joint actions to strengthen global water resilience during the 3rd EU-China Water Policy Dialogue, scheduled to take place in Brussels on 2 February 2026.
The High-Level Dialogue will be co-chaired by European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy Jessika Roswall and China’s Minister of Water Resources Li Guoying. Both sides will reaffirm their commitment to sustained bilateral cooperation, support for multilateral frameworks, and collective responses to growing global water challenges.
The discussions will focus on addressing increasing water scarcity and water stress, which are intensifying due to climate change and rising global demand. The dialogue will review current cooperation and identify future priorities for building climate-resilient and secure water systems that can withstand droughts, floods, and long-term environmental pressures.
EU and Chinese leaders will also align positions ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, including deliberations on the possible establishment of a regular intergovernmental process on water governance. The meeting aims to strengthen international coordination on water as a strategic resource linked to environmental sustainability, economic stability, and global security.
Following the policy dialogue, Commissioner Roswall will host the China-Europe Water Platform (CEWP) High-Level Conference, which will further explore technical and policy cooperation between European and Chinese stakeholders.
During the meetings, the European Commission will present the EU Water Resilience Strategy, which is built on three pillars: restoring and protecting the water cycle, developing a water-smart economy that supports competitiveness, and ensuring clean and affordable water and sanitation for all. The strategy promotes a “water efficiency first” principle, prioritizing demand reduction, efficiency improvements, and water reuse before expanding supply.
Areas of cooperation highlighted for further development include climate-resilient river basin management, urban adaptation to floods and droughts, water ecosystem restoration, and the use of digital technologies to improve monitoring, efficiency, and early warning systems. Both sides emphasized that scaling up innovation and digital solutions is critical to addressing future water risks.
EU-China cooperation on water dates back to the mid-2000s and was formalized with the launch of the China-Europe Water Platform in 2012. In 2017, the partnership was strengthened through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding that established the EU-China Water Policy Dialogue as a structured mechanism for cooperation.
Under its Water Resilience Strategy, the EU plans to expand partnerships with third countries, boost investment in water infrastructure, promote innovative financing mechanisms, and improve global water governance. The strategy also aims to support access to clean drinking water and sanitation for at least 70 million people worldwide while mobilizing private investment through sustainable finance instruments. (*)
