Chinese Vice Premier Hui Liangyu urged local authorities to place great emphasis on solving water shortages in drought-hit areas and water pollution here Thursday.

Presiding a conference over water conservancy, Hui urged local authorities to improve flood control and water supply abilities as well as ensure ecological security.

To attain the goals of the 11th five-year plan (2006-2010) on water conservancy development, Hui said efforts have to be made in the following areas:

-- Promote sustainable development and use of water resources and provide safe drinking water for 160 million rural residents;

-- Improve abilities in disaster control and disaster alleviation, speed up water projects development in flood- and drought- hit area;

-- Intensify infrastructure development of water conservancy in rural area and build better irrigation facilities;

-- Popularize water-saving concept in the whole society;

-- Attach more importance to protecting water resources and reducing water pollution.

Hui also asked localities and related authorities to give high priorities to water conservancy projects, deepen reforms of water prices and financing system on water conservancy projects as well as strengthen water resources management.