BEPPU, Japan, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Government heads, ministers and other policy makers of the Asia Pacific region Monday gathered here to discuss water-related issues and call for water security in the region.

    "While enjoying rapid economic development, the Asia-Pacific region is faced with all kinds of issues in relation with water," said Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda at the opening ceremony of the 1st Asia-Pacific Water Summit held in Beppu, Oita prefecture of southern Japan.

    "More than half of the problems related with water in the world are here in the Asia-Pacific region," Fukuda said, noting that the security of safe and clean water resources, water-related disasters and water for agriculture are among the most important issues in Asia.

    The Asia-Pacific region is home to about 60 percent of the world population, yet possesses only some 40 percent of the world's water resources, said Japan's Crown Prince Naruhito at the opening.

    Data show that as of 2004, there were around 700 million people with no access to safe drinking water in the region. Meanwhile, 1.9 billion people were without basic sanitation.

    "Investments in water and sanitation are among the best we can make, "United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said in a video message to the summit, "for every dollar spent, we can expect to return at least three dollars." Such investment can also significantly promote education, social and economic development, Ban said.

    During the two-day summit with a theme of "Water Security: Leadership and Commitment", government heads, ministers and business leaders from over 30 countries in the Asia-Pacific region, global and regional organizations representatives, scholars will discuss ways to promote water resources management, solve water-related disasters, and discuss climate change, ecosystem issues as related with water.

    A series of discussions are to be held over issues including climate change, water financing, water-related disaster management, water for development and ecosystems, among others.

    Among the participants also representatives from the Asian Development Bank, the World Conservation Union, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, UNESCO, Japan Water Forum and others.

    A number of symposiums, seminars and workshops related with water resources management, environment, disaster prevention were held in Beppu, Kyoto, Yokohama and other cities in Japan shortly before the opening of the water summit.