The pollution control of the Rhine is a successful management mode for comprehensive cooperation in environmental governance, which could provide an important reference for the Yangtze River governance. This study explored river basin management and various pollution problems faced by these two rivers at different times, and also includes governance and management effects. The changes in water quality and aquatic life before and after policy implementation had also been compared. The results showed that the International Commission for the Protection of the Rhine (ICPR) made outstanding contributions to the water-quality improvement, demonstrating its management mode was efficient and effective. Cooperative communication and targeted policies are effective ways to improve the water quality of large river basins. Clear division of labor system and phased cooperation-governance objectives are also significant for the inter-provincial cooperative governance of Yangtze River pollution.
Keywords: Cooperation mechanism; The Rhine Basin; The Yangtze Basin; Water policy evaluation.