The Ministry of Construction plans to invest 250 billion yuan (US$30 billion) in tackling the problem of urban waste water within the next 10 years.

The money will be used to set up waste water recycling factories, expand other additional infrastructure construction in water disposal and further technique research.

In the next five years, China needs US$10 billion for waste water disposal and recycling.

An official with the ministry said that China is also seeking much wider and further cooperation with foreign countries and organizations in this endeavor.

"We need financial and technological support from experienced countries and organizations to tackle the increasingly serious problems and to realize sustainable development," said Li Xiankui, director of the foreign affairs under the ministry.

China's current situation with regards to polluted water disposal is behind the times, according to Li.

Currently, only 15 percent of waste water can be treated, while developed countries treat more than 85 percent of their waste water treated.

The government is determined to increase input and strengthen co-operation in order to tackle the demanding and pressing problems, Li said.

According to the State's Tenth Five-Year Plan (2001-05), the rate of treated waste water should reach 60 percent by 2005 in cities with a population of over 500,000, and in 2010, all cities across China should meet that standard.

To expand cooperation with the rest of the world, the Ministry of Construction plans to hold the 21st Century International Conference & Exhibition on Developing Strategy of Urban Waste Water Treatment and Reuse, from November 27 to 29 this year.

Li said that the conference and exhibition will be jointly held by his ministry, the World Bank (WB) and the United Nations' Industrial Development Organization.

The bank has shown a great interest in investing in China's waste water treatment in urban areas, which is the State's new priority, needing US$10 billion input in the next five years.

"We look forward to furthering our close collaboration with China on the treatment of urban waste water through this conference, and through future WB-financed urban waste water investment," said Osmo Tammeler, WB representative to China.

(China Daily 08/18/2001)