国内英语新闻:China allocates $3.4 bln on energy saving, ecological projects

BEIJING, April 29 (Xinhua)-- China has allocated 23 billion yuan (3.37billion U.S. dollars) for energy saving, anti-pollution, ecological and environmental protection projects since the fourth quarter of last year, a senior official told Xinhua Wednesday.

    Han Yongwen, secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission, said investment in these sectors accounted for 10 percent of the 230 billion yuan government spending to date on infrastructure, ecological and environmental sectors, quake relief and other areas.

    China unveiled a 4-trillion-yuan stimulus package in November last year to be spent over the next two years with 1.18 trillion yuan spending from the central government, to cope with the adverse effects of the global financial crisis and shore up the domestic economy.

    "This ratio of 10 percent was not low. It shows that the central government not only focuses on stimulating domestic demand and keeping stable economic growth, but also stresses laying a good foundation for the economy's sustainable development in the long run," Han said.

    Of the 23 billion yuan spending, 13 billion went to improving urban water treatment facilities, 4 billion yuan to pollution prevention projects on the Huaihe and other big rivers, 3.5 billion yuan to forest planting projects and the other 2.5 billion yuan to key energy saving projects across the country.