From May 29 to June 2, 2017, the 16th World Water Congress was held in Cancun, Mexico, under the theme of "Building a Bridge between Science and Policy". The World Water Conference is held by the International Water Resources Association (IWRA), hosted by the Mexican National Water Commission (CONAGUA) and the National Water and Sanitation Association (ANEAS). Thousands of experts and scholars from nearly 100 countries attended the conference. China sent a delegation headed by Vice Minister of Water Resources Lu Guihua to attend the conference. Professor Qin Tianbao and Wuhan University College of Water Conservancy and Hydropower Engineering and Wuhan University Water Security Research Institute Associate Professor Dong Qianjin and Associate Professor She Dunxian participated in the conference.

Commissioned by the Academician Xia Jun, Dean of the Institute of Water Security, Wuhan University. Professor Qin Tianbao chaired the sub-forum on the "Water Security Issues for Developing Countries in Changing Environment".

Professor Qin Tianbao made a special report on "Protecting Water through Environmental Public Interest Litigation". The report briefly introduces the development of China's environmental protection court and public interest litigation, combined with the recent three cases of water pollution public interest litigation, focusing on the meaning and shortcomings of China's environmental public interest litigation to protect of water security, and proposed improving direction and specific suggestions. After the report, Professor Qin Tianbao answered questions of the US and Mexican listeners.

After the conclusion of the sub-forum, professor Qin Tianbao also accepted the interview by the organizers of the conference, answering the questions raised by the experts on the uniqueness of china's water security issues, the latest developments in laws and policies in the field of water security and the adjustment of environmental public interest litigation system, he answered the question of journalists as well.

During the meeting, Prof. Qin Tianbao also held talks with Prof. Gabriel Eckstein from Texas A&M University, who is also the principal of the International Water Law project and professor Owen Mcintyre of the Cork University in Ireland to strengthen cooperation relating to the international water law between Wuhan University and the two universities.