7^th Edition Overview

Across Asia and Europe, cities are facing rising pressure to manage water sustainably amid rapid urbanisation, climate change and growing demand. The 7^th ASEM Seminar on Urban Water Management will take place 27–28 May 2026 in Helsinki, Finland, bringing together around 150 participants from UN agencies, multilateral development banks, government, academia, research institutions, think tanks, industry and finance to exchange practical solutions, policy approaches and innovations that can strengthen urban water governance and resilience. The theme for this year’s seminar is “A Community of Life for Water and Urbanisation: Science and Technology Empowering the Sustainability of Blue-Green Economy”.  The programme will be held in person and will include keynote and plenary discussions, thematic sessions and a field visit showcasing approaches that connect governance, science and technology with real-world application. Organised by ASEM Water Resources Research and Development Center (ASEMWater) with the support of the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and co-organised with partners including CASTF, Finnish Water Forum, FinWater, EWA, the Hungarian Water Association, the Romanian Sustainable Environment and Ecological Innovation Cluster, and CEH, the Seminar aims to strengthen Asia–Europe cooperation by fostering multi-stakeholder dialogue, sharing transferable case studies and innovations, and building partnerships that advance sustainable urban water management and the blue-green economy across ASEM members.

For enquiries, please contact:

Ms XIANG Zhuo

Email Address: asemwater@asemwater.org

Phone number (and fax): +86-731-88988865

About ASEMwater and the Seminar Series

ASEMwater was proposed at the 8^th ASEM Summit (4–5 October 2010, Brussels) as a deliverable to promote sustainable development in Asia and Europe through science and technology collaboration and capacity building in water resources management. Global frameworks such as the UN 2030 Agenda, SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and the Water Action Decade (2018–2028) have underscored the need for science-based, inclusive and cooperative approaches to sustainable water management. ASEMwater was officially founded in 2011 in Changsha, Hunan Province, China, within the ASEM framework.

The ASEM Seminar on Urban Water Management (hereinafter referred to as “the Seminar”) was established in 2012 under the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) framework as a biennial dialogue platform for government agencies, research institutions, industry experts, and practitioners. The Seminar aims to enhance understanding, cooperation, and innovation between Asia and Europe in areas such as water governance, urban ecology and sustainable infrastructure. Over six editions, it has fostered high-level exchanges and policy dialogues that connect research outcomes with practical applications in water management and sustainability.

Over the past editions, the Seminar has provided a sustained platform for Asia–Europe exchange, moving between in-person and online formats when needed and continuing to build collaboration among stakeholders.

A snapshot of previous editions includes:

• 2014: ASEM Seminar on Sustainable Management of Water Resources in the Context of Urbanization — Changsha, China
• 2016: 2^nd ASEM Water Resources S&T Cooperation Seminar — Changsha, China
• 2018: 3^rd ASEM Seminar on Urban Water Management: “Urban Solutions for Global Challenges” — Budapest, Hungary
• 2020: 4^th ASEM Seminar on Urban Water Management with & China (Chenzhou) International Expo on the Sustainable Utilization of Water Resources and Green Development — Chenzhou, China
• 2022: 5^th ASEM Seminar on Urban Water Management — Changsha, China
• 2024: 6^th ASEM Seminar on Urban Water Management: “Promoting Sustainable Development of Water Resources for Shared Prosperity” — Changsha, China