Dr. Osama Gazal

The world today is going through profound change at a scale unseen in a century. Problems and challenges continue to threaten the progress of human civilization. In response to a changing global situation and the expectations of the international community, and with the future and overall interests of humanity in mind, China proposed the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in 2013, with the international cooperation priorities of policy coordination, infrastructure connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration, and people-to-people bonds among participating countries. This Initiative has injected new drivers into global economic growth, opened new space for worldwide development, and created a new platform for building a global community of shared future.

Before entering into my first visit to China and my efforts to benefit from the BRI in May this year, it is necessary to review recent events briefly. Since the late 1970s, China has undergone reform and opening up, transforming it from a poor agricultural country to the world's second-largest economy. Major cities such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Shenzhen have become the emblems of technical progress and industrial renewal. Today, China is regarded as the world's “factory”, accounting for a sizable portion of global industrial output. It has also made substantial advances in current technology areas such as artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and space.

I was invited to participate in the Seminar on Dam Safety Management for Belt and Road Countries organized by the National Research Institute for Rural Electrification of the Ministry of Water Resources of China/Hangzhou Regional Center (Asia-Pacific) for Small Hydro Power (HRC). This amazing 14-day Seminar has refreshed me and changed my previous stereotypes of China with its professional lectures, beneficial study tours, in-depth exchanges and discussions, and pleasant cultural experience, presenting me and other delegates a vivid China on its path to modernization, how it promotes the high-quality development, and how China carries out the international cooperation for a shared future under the framework of BRI.

And, for the sake of truth, and based on my direct experience, I confirm that China is a very great and ancient country, with the authenticity and friendliness of its people, the openness and inclusiveness of its cooperation, the diversity and depth of its civilization, and deeply ingrained values in Chinese society, such as their reverence for the meanings of peace, love, peaceful coexistence, respect for others, generosity in dealings, and helping others. China boasts a rich and enduring history spanning over 5,000 years, making it one of the world's oldest continuous civilizations. From the early dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou to the imperial eras of Qin, Han, Tang, and Ming, China developed a sophisticated culture marked by profound philosophical traditions, technological innovations, and artistic achievements. Confucianism, Daoism, and Buddhism shaped its moral and spiritual foundations, while inventions like paper, gunpowder, the compass, and printing revolutionized global progress.

The secret to China’s success and amazing development is its devotion to knowledge and appreciation for scholars, as well as its adherence to lofty ideals that we all strive for in every country on the globe to ensure its survival and continuity within our communities. This is especially true in its sanctification of knowledge and its practitioners, which includes benefiting from them, respecting experts, being honest in dealings, and upholding integrity, as well as rejecting extremism and ignorance and being wary of empowering or excluding corrupt individuals from leadership positions.

Jordan must benefit from such a massive drive by the Chinese colossus, one of the most powerful poles in our modern world. I shall work hard toward that goal, serving my nation and having a sense of obligation to it, as well as loving our Hashemite leadership, which supports everyone who is sincere in this homeland. True, my efforts may not be a magical solution or a powerful impetus for further progress, but the attempt and opportunity to contribute something simple to my beloved country is sufficient for me, as I place myself, my experience, and what I have learned at the disposal of the leadership and the nation.

Therefore, during my visit to China, I was delighted to learn that, since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping’s pioneering water governance philosophy of “prioritizing water conservation, balancing spatial distribution, taking systematic approaches, and promoting government-market synergy” has provided significant guidance for water management in the new era.

In the last year, water conservancy authorities at all levels pursued high-quality development of the water sector and made significant headway in safeguarding China’s water security. New victories were achieved in flood and drought prevention, ensuring the safety of people’s lives and property to the greatest extent. Water conservancy contributed to China’s grain output exceeding 700 million tons for the first time. Investment in the construction of water conservancy facilities has exceeded RMB one trillion for three consecutive years. A number of landmark and strategic projects such as the Guxian Water Conservancy Hub Project on the Yellow River have started construction. New breakthroughs were made in getting both the government and the market to play a greater role in water governance. Reforms achieved remarkable progress in areas such as water conservancy investment and financing, water rights trading, the transition of water resources fees into taxes, contract-based water-saving management, and the value realization mechanism for ecological products in soil and water conservation.

China actively strengthens water governance exchanges and cooperation with other countries, shares its experiences and practices in water governance, and works together to enhance the global capacity for water governance. During this visit, I had an opportunity to make a presentation at a specialized scientific symposium on the interdependence of water, energy, food, and ecology, known among specialists as the water-energy-food-ecology nexus. I sought to highlight the beauty and authenticity of our country, its people, leadership, stability, and aptitude for prudent administration, with a strong sense of belonging, patriotism, and concern for my beloved motherland. I highlighted in a precise, scientific, and systematic manner our need for support and assistance, particularly in terms of water security, which the country's leader (His Majesty King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein) regards as a basic base for development: there can be no progress without water security.

Throughout my presentation and talks with Chinese specialists and authorities, I always talked with a passion for my hometown and expressed my kindness and readiness to cooperate. By order of the symposium organizers and Prof. DAI Jiqun, President of Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute (NHRI), I was personally and officially invited to be the only participant from the various Seminar delegates of the invited countries to attend a special lunch with the President, his aides, and a team of senior Chinese water and energy officials and experts. My seat was assigned close to the President as a show of hospitality and thanks, which is not surprising in Chinese society, which values education, scholars, and patriotism. Chinese people are capable of recognizing and expressing their love and appreciation, with their passion for beautiful souls deeply embedded in their culture.

Yes, I praised China for the honor and kind reception, despite the fact that I had not requested it. But this is their culture, and this is how China built a great nation: they value scholars and cherish individuals who love their country. I felt proud, and my desire to serve the country intensified within the limits of my abilities. I felt a peculiar energy coming from a mix of emotions that reminded me of my late father, a math teacher and fine educator, may he rest in peace, who had a strong love for his homeland, mankind, and belonged to Jordan's Hashemite school of faithful leaders. Every citizen among us is a soldier of the nation, and we should be filled with love for our homeland and its Hashemite leadership, which always strives to present a beautiful image of our small country in size but large in the aspirations of its people, and significantly large in authentically Hashemite leadership. This journey began with the founding king, may he rest in peace, and continued through the era of building under the reign of King Hussein bin Talal, the king of Jordanians' hearts, to the era of consolidation under the leadership of His Majesty King Abdullah II, may God protect him, who consistently focuses on water issues and the necessity of finding solutions to Jordan's water challenges, as well as supporting his Crown Prince, Prince Hussein, in all young efforts to uplift.

The following link and the rest of the article provide an overview of the fruitful and well-organized workshop, noting that the post-workshop discussions were more optimistic and gave a lot of optimism for future collaboration.
https://english.nhri.cn/art/2025/5/29/art_351_82134.html

*Dr. Osama Gazal, (Hydrogeological and Environmental Applied Engineering)