10th World Water Forum Opens In Indonesia's Bali

 BALI, May 20 (Bernama-Xinhua/ANTARA) -- The 10th World Water Forum under the theme of "Water for Shared Prosperity" officially opened on Indonesia's island of Bali on Monday, reported Xinhua.

A number of country leaders and United Nations representatives attended the official opening ceremony.

Meanwhile ANTARA reported that President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) chaired the 10th World Water Forum High Level Meeting at the Bali International Convention Centre (BICC), Nusa Dua, Bali.

The Prime Minister of Tajikistan Qohir Rasulzoda, President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Fiji Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere, Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia Haji Fadillah Bin Haji Yusof, and Deputy Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea John Rosso attended the meeting.

The meeting was also attended by World Water Council (WWC) President Loïc Fauchon, United Nations (UN) General Assembly President Dennis Francis, former Hungarian president Janos Ader, French special envoy Barbara Pompili, and Dutch special envoy Meike van Ginneken.

The 10th World Water Forum focused on four topics, namely water conservation, clean water and sanitation, food and energy security, and mitigation of natural disasters.

Jokowi said in his opening remarks that in 2050, 500 million small farmers who contribute 80 per cent of the world's food are predicted to be most vulnerable to drought.

"By gathering us in Bali today, Indonesia hopes that the world can join hands on an ongoing basis to strengthen the commitment to collaboration in overcoming global challenges related to water," he added.

World Water Council President Loic Fauchon, who also made a remark, said that water brings and unites people, but the planet earth has been damaged by people.

"And we are here because, aware of this tragedy, we want to repair it and give future generations hope, desire and serenity," he said. 

-- BERNAMA-AGENCIES