China plans to counter the worsening water crisis in the semi-arid north while realigning its major flood-prone rivers. The nation's ambitious initiatives were outlined yesterday by Zhang Chunyuan, vice-minister of water resources, during a symposium marking World Water Day. Studies will be conducted to determine the feasibility of diverting water from the Yangtze River to the drought-prone north, Zhang confirmed. China, a country with scarce water resources, will improve plans for the post-flood realignment of major rivers, and other counter-measures, to solve the water shortage in the north, Zhang said.