XINING, Sept. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- The second Yellow River international forum will be convened in Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province, from October 18-21.

    Preserving rivers will be the focus of the forum, said Li Guoying, director of the Yellow River Water Resources Committee, who was in Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, attending a two-day meeting on Yellow River water and soil conservation at its upper and middle reaches.

    The Yellow River drainage area is water deficient and the contradiction in the supply and demand of water resources at the Yellow River has become acute along with rapid economic expansion,said Li.

    "The proper volume of water that ensures the healthy life of the Yellow River is being used for other purposes such as excessive water diversion for irrigation, but the water for maintaining the ecology is neglected, which has led to a range of problems at the lower reaches of the Yellow River and its tributaries, such the silting and withering of the river courses, and bloated riverbeds," said Li.

    "Via the forum, we seek to solicit suggestions and find solutions regarding the problem of preserving a healthy life of rivers on earth, including the Yellow River," said the official, who added that over 1,000 domestic and overseas specialists had applied to attend the forum.

    The first such forum was held in Zhengzhou in October 2003.

    The Yellow River, with a length of 5,464 km, is one of the muddiest rivers in the world. It is known as "China's sorrow" for the serious damage caused by the frequent flooding of the river. Enditem