China downplays India, Bangladesh concerns on dam construction on Yarlung Zangbo river

New Delhi/Beijing, July 24 (UNI) China has downplayed concerns by India and Bangladesh that the dam being constructed on Yarlung Zangbo River in Tibet would adversely impact downstream regions and said Beijing is engaged in cooperation with downstream countries on sharing hydrological data, flood prevention and disaster reduction.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said Beijing has had necessary communication with them on the project and would continue enhancing cooperation for the benefit of all people along the river basin.

‘’The project will help prevent and mitigate disasters along the entire Yarlung Zangbo River, and will not adversely affect downstream regions. China is engaged in cooperation with downstream countries on sharing hydrological data, flood prevention and disaster reduction. We have had necessary communication with them on the project, and will continue enhancing cooperation for the benefit of all people along the river basin,’’ he said.

The spokesman said that to build the hydropower project in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River is fully within China’s sovereignty and aims to speed up clean energy development, improve local people’s life, and proactively respond to climate change.

He said China acts with a high sense of responsibility in harnessing cross-border rivers and has rich experience in hydropower projects. The planning, design and construction of this newly announced project strictly follows the highest national industrial standards.

He said the project puts a lot of emphasis on all-round ecological conservation, stays away from multiple environmentally sensitive areas, and vows to preserve the original ecosystem to the largest extent possible.

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