Abstract: Tarim River Basin is the largest continental river basin in China. Its whole area is 1.02×106 km², which includes the whole areas south Xinjiang. The water resources and the ecological environment issues of the region are worldwidely paid attention to. The balanced development of the population, natural resources, and environment in the Tarim River basin has an important significance for maintaining the stability of the border areas, promoting the social progress and prosperity, and implementing the strategy of the great development of West China. To counter the existing problems in the exploitation and utilization of water resources and the ecological environment protection in the Tarim River basin, this paper discusses the overall conception, targets in the different periods of development, basic principles and rational exploitation and utilization of the water resources as well as the countermeasures for protecting the ecological environment in the basin.

Key words: Tarim river basin, water resources, sustainable utilization