Mayors attending a forum on the study of urban water resources Sunday called for protecting water resources and dealing with water pollution in China's urban areas.

These mayors or deputy mayors in charge of environmental protection, came from 47 cities across the country. They published a proposal on the strategy of sustainable water resources in cities.

They called for giving top priority to water saving and building cities into water-efficient ones. They also called for achieving clean production and developing a recycled economy.

Meanwhile, they called for efforts to increase cities' capabilities to prevent flooding and let cities' water networks play multiple roles, including environmental protection, disaster prevention, culture and scenery.

The proposal also deals with sensitive issues like water pricing and reforming state-owned water-supply companies and sewage plants with a modern corporate management system.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18, 2004)