A brainstorming workshop on sustainable management of water resources in China was held from 25th to 26th May in Beijing. The workshop aimed to increase understanding of water scarcity issues in China with a particular reference to two inland river basins in Gansu Province, the Shiyang and Shule basins, and to learn from Australian and international donor initiatives for improving management and adjustment to water scarcity problems.
 
 
The workshop identified Chinese capacity needs in sustainable water resources management and, more specifically, in managing risks resulting from water resource scarcity. It scoped a potential activity for Gansu Province that could be considered for funding under the ACEDP and/or by other donors.
 
 
The 1st day of the workshop provided a good platform for information sharing by all participants. Research institutes such as THU, IWHR and CAS gave an overall picture of water shortage problem in China's inland river basins; MWR briefed on national policy approaches for managing risks; Shiyang and Shule river basin representatives gave introductions of the situation in Gansu; and Australian attendees from the University of Melbourne and the Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment introduced the water resources situation in Australia and management approaches on technical and policy aspects.  Participants were then given an overview of relevant donor projects, including the DFID-funded ' Water Resources Demand Management Assistance Project'  and the EU-funded ' EU-China River Basin Management Project'. AusAID introduced its scholarship and small activities schemes.
 
 
The 2nd day of the workshop focussed on identifying specific needs for technical assistance that could be provided under a potential ACEDP funded project. Working Groups were established to further narrow down and specify these needs and to match them with the ACEDP strategic framework and funding limitations. Case studies, eg on the ' Murray-Darling Basin Sustainable Yields Project' and the ' Goulburn-Broken Catchment Study' helped participants better understand Australian management approaches in river basins of a similar nature to the two targeted inland rivers in Gansu. It further helped them to identify examples of best practice that would be useful for a mutual exchange activity.
 
 
The next step is an activity outline that the Australian experts will circulate to Chinese experts for comment, before a full activity design document is prepared in time for submission under the ACEDP’s second round of funding in September/October 2009.