Representatives at the event

Pepsi Group announced it will donate U.S.$ 2 million to China Women's Development Foundation (CWDF) to support the Water Cellar for Mothers — Green Countryside project, on June 14.

Pepsi Group first began to support the Water Cellar for Mothers Project in 2001, and it was the first Fortune 500 company that supports the project. Pepsi has since donated 55 million yuan to the project, during which 2,300 water cellars have been built and 200 drinking water projects constructed and upgraded.

Meng Xiaosi gives a speech at the event.

Meng Xisosi, president of the CWDF, said: "Over the past decade, the Water Cellar for Mothers Project has provided access for over 3.04 million people to safe drinking water in rural areas, and at schools among 25 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities, under the support of the Pepsi Group and people from all walks of the society."

Pepsi Group has greatly contributed to providing safe drinking water for women, families and schools in these remote drought-affected regions, said the official.

Meng said the Green Countryside project, supported by the Pepsi Group and CWDF, is suitable for sustainable development and reflects the value of harmonious co-existence between people and nature.

"Furthermore, it has a more profound meaning on shouldering social responsibilities, which can set up an effective mechanism for enterprises and social organizations to participate in the environmental protection, and rural revitalization," Meng added.

Hou Yanqiu gives a speech at the event.

Ram Krishnan, CEO of Pepsi Group (Greater China Region), said: "We have paid much attention to the severe challenge of insufficient safe water globally.

"As a widely-integrated global enterprise in China's society, Pepsi Group has promised to cooperate with China to find more innovative and sustainable solutions for environmental governance, and contribute to solving security-based water-drinking problems in other countries," Krishnan added.

Deputy Secretary-General of CWDF Zhang Jianmin explained: "The Green Countryside project, an upgrade of the Water Cellar for Mothers Project, will integrate water protection and environmental governance with women's empowerment, and will organize relevant projects to improve the water quality in China's rural areas."

"It can help such residents improve their living conditions and water-protection awareness," Zhang said.

Ram Krishnan gives a speech at the event.

 About 2.8 billion people are affected by lack of water in the world, and it is projected that two thirds of the global population will live in drought-stricken areas due to water usage habits, the population increase, and climate change, said the official.

According to statics from China's Ministry of Water Resources, the country's per capita fresh water resources only occupies 28 percent of the global average level, making it one of the poorest countries in terms of water resources.

Zhang said: "To ensure the drinking water supply in north China, the middle route of South-to-North Water Diversion Project was finished in December 2014, and much attention had been paid to the protection of the environment in the Danjiangkou Reservoir, in Central China, and its nearby upper reach areas."

Meng Xiaosi (L2) receives the donation from Pepsi.

However, there still exists a lack of garbage processing systems in rural areas. Environment and hygiene conditions in most toilets have not been improved. Furthermore, residents' awareness still need to be promoted.

The Green Countryside Project will be formally implemented in the fourth quarter of this year, over eight years.

Centralized water supply facilities will be built or reconstructed in key villages in central China's Hubei , Henan provinces, and northwest China's Shaanxi Province.

Meanwhile, it will help 4,000 households build toilets and garbage processing systems and mechanisms. It is projected that 10.2 million people will benefit from the project by the end of 2025.

Furthermore, the Pepsi Group and CWDF will organize relevant training courses to improve local villagers' attention to water quality and environmental protection.

So far, Pepsi Group has helped over 900,000 people in 10 provinces including southwest China's Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou Province; and, north China's Hebei.