Yunnan.s Water Resource Development

The Western Development Programme is a strategic project for China's sustainable development in the twenty-first century. It focuses on exploration of natural resources, on protecting and restoring the environment, and expanding the social economy in order to eliminate poverty and remove the disparity between the East and the West. Known as the ‘Water Tower’ of Asia, Yunnan province enjoys geographical advantages over eleven other western provinces due to its bountiful natural resources. Given that China has entered the World Trade Organization (WTO), it is of tremendous importance for Yunnan to seize the opportunity, and properly explore and protect its water resources so as to promote its social and economic development.