Uzbek Delegation Studies China's Flood Drainage

An Uzbek delegation led by a deputy construction minister is examining rainwater management systems in Fuzhou, China.

Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Safety

Bold vector editorial illustration of a stone-lined stormwater channel with rainwater flowing over smooth stones beside a planted rain garden.
An Uzbek delegation led by First Deputy Construction Minister Jalol Arashov toured Fuzhou's rainwater drainage systems to study China's Sponge City approach for Tashkent. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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A delegation from Uzbekistan led by Jalol Arashov, First Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services, is studying urban rainwater management in Fuzhou, China. The visit, organized at the invitation of China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, was part of World Cities Day 2026.

Why it matters

The delegation aims to assess how China's modern drainage systems could be applied in Tashkent and other Uzbek cities. The stated goals include reducing flood risk during heavy rainfall and creating a safer urban environment.

The visit focused on infrastructure including underground rainwater reservoirs beneath car parks, integrated park drainage, and centralized flood risk forecasting tools. No measured performance metrics or flood statistics were included in the available information.

The players

Jalol Arashov

Jalol Arashov is the First Deputy Minister of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Uzbekistan, leading the delegation studying Chinese drainage systems.

China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development

China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development is the national government body that oversees urban construction and infrastructure policy and invited the delegation.

The details

The delegation toured Fuzhou's rainwater collection and drainage infrastructure and was shown robotic pipeline cameras and centralized monitoring systems. Discussions with Chinese engineers and designers centered on technologies used under China's Sponge City concept, which absorbs, filters, and stores rainwater in urban areas before gradual release.

Timeline

  1. • The visit took place as part of World Cities Day 2026.

Seasonal Patterns

The delegation's study builds on China's Sponge City initiative, which promotes absorbing and storing urban rainwater to reduce flooding. Uzbekistan is evaluating whether this model can be adapted to its own cities as heavy rainfall flooding becomes a growing concern.

Urban residents in flood-prone areas can review local municipal drainage plans and stormwater guidance from their city governments. Staying informed about official flood alerts and evacuation routes during heavy rainfall helps protect households.

The takeaway

Cities facing heavier rainfall can reduce flood damage by combining underground storage, integrated green spaces, and real-time monitoring. Those practices offer models that local planners and residents may consider in their own communities.

Further reading

Explore more on Safety to see how cities manage flood risks and protect residents.

Live Poll

Should your city invest more in underground flood-control drainage systems?