Officials with China's Ministry of Water Resources said Sunday that the central government will assist Xinjiang to build four water security and supporting systems in five to 10 years to ensure water security in the region.

Water Resources Minister Chen Lei said the ministry aims to totally solve the problem of drinking water security in rural areas in Xinjiang by 2013. By 2020, dikes in crucial reaches of major rivers will be able to withstand once-in-a-half-century, or even once-in-a-century floods.

According to Chen, currently 4.63 million farmers and herdsmen in Xinjiang face drinking water security problems.

The four systems focus on the reasonable allocation of water, efficient use of water, water security and protection of the water environment, said Chen.

The unique natural and geographical conditions in Xinjiang determines the special strategic significance of water conservation in regional economic and social development, said Chen.

The distribution of water resources in Xinjiang is imbalanced, with more water in the west and north than in the east and south.

(Xinhua News Agency September 27, 2010)