A Sino-Australian cooperative project, the Hebei Water and Farming Management Project, was recently launched in Hebei Province, north China.

The project aims to strengthen the province's management of local water resources, according to provincial water conservancy bureau officials.

Covering the six counties of Kangbao, Zhangbei, Shangyi, Wanquan, Lingshou and Yixian, the project is being financed by a donation of 16.31 million Australian dollars.

Hebei is severely short of water resources and droughts frequently plague the province.

(Xinhua News Agency November 13, 2002)