The development of GWP China can be divided into three phases.
Phase 1: Technical Advisory Committee (November 2000 – September 2006)
The Technical Advisory Committee of GWP China was formally established in November 2000, with Liang Ruiju serving as its Chair. On September 30, 2003, Yang Zhenhuai was appointed Honorary Chair of the Committee, Dong Zheren as Chair, Yang Guowei as Vice Chair, and Wang Hao as Secretary-General.
Phase 2: The Global Water Partnership of China, Regional Partnership (September 2006 – March 2016)
The Technical Advisory Committee was restructured into the GWP China, and the First Partner Congress of GWP China was convened in September 2006. The Statues of GWP China was adopted at the congress, and the First Council was elected, with Dong Zheren as Chair and Wang Hao as Secretary-General. In January 2008, the 4th Meeting of the First Council of the GWP China Committee was held, at which Wang Hao was elected Vice Chair and Zheng Rugang as Secretary-General. In May 2009, the Second Partner Congress was convened, electing Wang Shucheng as Chair, Dong Zheren as Executive Vice Chair, Wang Hao as Vice Chair, and Zheng Rugang as Secretary-General.
Phase 3: GWP China 中国水资源战略研究会 (March 2016 – Present)
To standardize organizational governance, and with the support of the Ministry of Water Resources, the GWP China Committee, with the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research as the initiating organization, submitted an application to the Ministry of Civil Affairs for the registration of a social organization under the name of 中国水资源战略研究会(GWP China). On March 20, 2014, the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued the official reply Approval on the Preparatory Establishment of GWP China (Ministry of Civil Affairs Letter〔2014〕No. 75), approving the convening of the founding congress of the organization with independent legal status.
In March 2016, the First Partner Assembly of 中国水资源战略研究会 and the Third Partner Congress of the GWP China were held jointly. The Statues of 中国水资源战略研究会 was adopted, and the leadership bodies were elected. Cai Qihua (Mdm) was appointed Chair, Wang Hao as Executive Vice Chair, 8 individuals including Kuang Shangfu as Vice Chairs, and Jiang Yunzhong as Secretary-General.
In December 2020, the Second Partner Assembly of 中国水资源战略研究会 and the Fourth Partner Assembly of the GWP China were convened. The revised version of the Statutes was adopted at the meeting, and the leadership body was elected. Cai Qihua still served as Chair, Wang Hao as Executive Vice Chair, 16 individuals including Yu Xingjun as Vice Chairs, and Jiang Yunzhong as Secretary-General.
In December 2025, the Third Partner Assembly of 中国水资源战略研究会 was held, at which the new leadership body of the association was elected. Zhong Zhiyu was appointed Chair, 11 individuals including Li Jinxiu (Mdm) as Vice Chairs, and Zhao Yong as Secretary-General.