A new partnership between the Tisza and Hanjiang river basins brings experts together to find better ways of dealing with floods, droughts and climate change.
Water does not stop at national borders. Rivers connect communities, economies and ecosystems, often flowing through several countries before reaching the sea. As climate change brings more frequent droughts, floods and extreme heat, managing these shared water resources is becoming increasingly important.
Despite this background, Hungary and China have launched a new cooperation between two major river basins: the Tisza and the Hanjiang.
The kick-off meeting of the River Basin Twinning on the Hanjiang River and Tisza River was held online on 11 August 2026. The initiative is part of the three-year, EU-funded EU-China Cooperation on Water Project and is supported by the EU-China Water Platform (CEWP). The partnership will bring together water experts from Hungary and China to share experiences and practical solutions for some of today's most pressing water challenges from drought and flooding to protecting rivers and adapting to climate change.
Mr. Péter Kovács, Water Director, OVF
Photo (screenshot): Dr. László Balatonyi, OVF
Two different rivers, similar challenges, and a common problem
At first sight, the Tisza in Central Europe and the Hanjiang in China may seem to have little in common. They are located thousands of kilometers apart and are managed within very different geographical and institutional settings. Yet both river basins are experiencing a similar challenge: how to make sure that enough water is available for people, agriculture and the economy while also protecting rivers and nature. Climate change is making this balance increasingly difficult. In Hungary, the Tisza River Basin is facing growing pressure from drought. The Tisza stretches for 966 kilometers and crosses five countries, making cooperation essential even under normal conditions. In recent years, water managers have had to deal with severe drought, changing groundwater levels and situations where drought and flooding can occur within the same basin.
The Kisköre Dam and Lake Tisza are important parts of the region's water-management system, supporting irrigation, hydropower and drinking-water supply. However, changing climate conditions are placing additional pressure on available water resources. Recent trends show that evaporation and “plant” water use can exceed precipitation, making drought an increasingly important concern.
Extract from the Chinese water experts’ presentation
Photo (screenshot): Harout Parseghian, intern, OVF
The Hanjiang: managing water on a large scale
The Hanjiang River is the largest tributary of the middle reaches of China's Yangtze River. It is an important source of water for communities, agriculture and economic development and is also closely connected with major national water-management projects. China has developed extensive infrastructure to manage water resources and reduce flood risks in the Hanjiang Basin. This includes thousands of kilometers of levees, major reservoirs and a network of hydraulic projects. However, managing water is not only about building infrastructure. The Hanjiang Basin has also placed strong emphasis on water quality, ecological protection and managing water in rivers and lakes. During the meeting, Chinese experts presented improvements in surface-water quality as well as measures to conserve soil and water and maintain ecological flows. These experiences offer valuable lessons for international cooperation because they show how large-scale water infrastructure can be combined with efforts to protect the environment.
When there is not enough water, who gets it?
One of the most important questions discussed during the meeting was how to distribute water when there is not enough for everyone. This is becoming an increasingly important issue as climate change affects water availability and demand continues to grow.
Chinese experts presented their experience of adaptive water management in the Hanjiang Basin. Water managers are placing greater emphasis on saving water, coordinating different water projects, preparing for emergencies and improving the way water is allocated. New technologies are also becoming part of this work. Digital twin technology, for example, can help water managers understand how a complex water system is behaving and support better decisions about where and when water should be released.
Principle of operation of “TIKEVIR” (Tisza-Körös-völgyi Együttműködő Vízgazdálkodási Rendszer) Collaborating Water Management System of Valley of Tisza- Körös Rivers
Hungary has developed its own approaches to managing water scarcity. During the meeting, experts from the Middle-Tisza District Water Directorate presented the “TIKEVIR” water distribution system, which is designed to coordinate water allocation during periods of scarcity. The experience of the Tisza shows how quickly conditions can change. While the period between 2000 and 2010 was strongly influenced by severe floods, the years since 2020 have increasingly been characterized by extreme drought, particularly in 2021 and 2022. Managing these conditions requires cooperation not only between water authorities, but also with farmers and other people who depend directly on water.
Learning from each other
The purpose of the River Basin Twinning is not to find one solution that can simply be copied from one country to another. Instead, the partnership creates an opportunity to ask a more useful question: What can we learn from each other's experience?
Hungary can share its experience in areas such as river basin management, European water policy, ecological approaches and nature-based solutions. China can contribute extensive experience in large-scale water management, infrastructure, water allocation and the use of digital technologies. The exchange can also help both sides think about how traditional water-management approaches need to change as the climate becomes less predictable.
For example, protecting people from floods remains essential, but river management also needs to consider ecosystems. Providing water for agriculture is important, but water must also remain in rivers and wetlands to support biodiversity. In addition, infrastructure can reduce certain risks, but long-term resilience may also depend on restoring natural processes and working with nature.
Why does this matter to ordinary people?
Water governance can sometimes sound like a distant or technical subject. In reality, it affects everyday life. It influences whether there is enough water for drinking, farming and industry, whether communities are protected from floods, whether rivers remain healthy and whether ecosystems can survive periods of drought. It also affects how countries cooperate with one another. The Tisza River, for example, crosses five countries. Decisions made upstream can influence communities and ecosystems downstream. This means that effective water management requires cooperation across borders as well as cooperation between different sectors and communities. The same principle applies to many river basins around the world.
Extract from the Chinese water experts’ presentation
Photo (screenshot): Harout Parseghian, intern, OVF
Looking ahead
The kick-off meeting formally opened a three-year period of cooperation between Hungarian and Chinese water professionals. The initiative is supported by the General Directorate of Water Management of Hungary and China's Changjiang Water Resources Commission and provides a framework for continued technical exchange. The coming years will offer opportunities to explore practical solutions for drought, floods, water allocation, ecological protection and climate adaptation. The cooperation between the Tisza and Hanjiang shows that, although rivers may be far apart, the challenges they face are increasingly connected.
By sharing experience across borders, countries can improve the way they manage water for people, for economies, and for the rivers and ecosystems that depend on it.
Text: Harout Parseghian, Lebanese intern from NKE (Ludovika University of Public Service), Master Course of International Water Policy and Water Diplomacy), International Department, OVF