BALI, Indonesia, May 21 (Xinhua) -- The 10th World Water Forum here on Tuesday adopted a ministerial declaration that highlights three priorities.
The declaration was adopted during the conclusion of the forum ministerial meeting, which was attended by 106 countries and 27 international organizations.
The first priority is the establishment of a center of excellence for water security and climate resilience for capacity building, knowledge sharing and utilization of superior facilities, said Basuki Hadimuljono, Indonesia's Minister of Public Works and Housing, who is chief operating officer of the National Organizing Committee of the 10th World Water Forum.
"As an archipelagic country, Indonesia should be in the frontline to encourage innovation in water management and sanitation. The center of excellence is not only for Indonesia, but also for other countries in the Asia-Pacific," he said.
The second priority, he said, is to raise and promote the issue of integrated water resources management on small islands, and the third is the World Lake Day proposal.
"We must conserve lakes to prolong their lives. This is the aim of commemorating World Lake Day," Hadimuljono said.
The 10th World Water Forum is held on the holiday island of Bali between May 18 and 25. ■
