Evolution and implications of the indicator system for China's water conservancy development planning

ZENG Jue; ZHAO Zhongnan; YANG Xiaoru

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1000-1123.2025.19.004

Abstract：Since the 12th Five-Year Plan,the goals and indicators set out in each plan have collectively reflected the development concepts and directions of the new era.Based on publicly available policy documents on water conservancy development planning from the 12th to the 14th Five-Year Plan periods,this study systematically reviews and analyzes the evolutionary trajectory and structural changes of the indicator system,revealing the fundamental characteristics and transformation trends of China's water conservancy development in the new era.The results show that the indicator system has evolved from being dominated by engineering construction and water supply security to a multi-objective composite system encompassing water conservation and intensive utilization,water ecological protection and restoration,basic public services for water conservancy,and digital and intelligent governance.At present,water conservancy development in China is shifting from an engineering-dominated approach to one that balances resource conservation and ecological protection,and is further advancing toward integration with intelligent modern governance.This process reflects a transition in national water management strategy from scale expansion during the high-speed growth stage to conservation-intensive and ecologically coordinated development in the stage of high-quality growth,signifying an elevated and transformed positioning of water conservancy in the national economic strategy.A five-category analytical framework for water conservancy development planning indicator system is innovatively constructed,clarifying their evolutionary characteristics,providing a structured perspective for understanding water management logic in the new era,and offering empirical evidence and policy references for optimizing water security planning indicators and enhancing governance capacity in the 15th Five-Year Plan period.