According to the agreement signed Saturday between a visiting Italian governmental delegation and the Beijing government, the money will be used to buy natural gas engines and to build automobile emission testing laboratories and other environmental protection facilities.

Beijing Vice-Mayor Zhang Mao thanked the Italian government and people for the donation.

Adolfo Urso, junior minister of the Italian ministry of production activities, said he made the visit to boost bilateral economic and cultural cooperation and Italian businesses' confidence in China.

As of the end of March 2003, Italy had invested 96 companies in Beijing, involving US$51.61 million.

(Xinhua News Agency May 24, 2003)