李鹏总理最近指出:“要重视水利的发展,要从战略高度来认识水利的地位和作用,要把水利作为国民经济的基础设施,并在‘八五’计划安排中加以体现。”这一重要指示,对推进我国水利事业的发展将产生深远的影响,对水文化的研究工作也指出正确的方向。水文化是指从事水事活动的人们创造的物质财富和精神财富的总和。它和水利基础产业的关系十分密切。水利基础产业的地位是水文化在一定社会形态下的体现,而水文化必将促进水利基础产业的发展。如何正确理解李鹏总理关于“从战略高度来认识水利的地位和作用”呢?我认为“认识”是属于思想观念或文化的范畴,提高对水利地位作用的认识,就是要求全社会提高水文化的水 Premier Li Peng pointed out recently: “We should attach importance to the development of water conservancy and understand the status and role of water conservancy from a strategic height. Water conservancy should be used as the infrastructure of the national economy and be reflected in the Ninth Five-year Plan.” The directives will have a far-reaching impact on promoting the development of water conservancy in our country. We also point out the correct direction for the research on water culture. Water culture refers to the sum of material wealth and spiritual wealth created by people engaged in water activities. It is closely related to the basic water conservancy industry. The status of basic industries of water conservancy is the embodiment of aquatic culture in certain social forms, and the aquatic culture will surely promote the development of basic industries of water conservancy. How to correctly understand Premier Li Peng’s position on “understanding the status and role of water conservancy from a strategic height?” I think “understanding” belongs to the category of ideological concepts or culture. To raise awareness of the role of water conservancy is to require the whole society to raise the level of water culture water