The Chinese government and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the British government have jointly kicked off a project aiming to help protect the environment and eradicate poverty in Yunnan Province, southwest China.
The DFID of the British government will provide a total investment of 6.766 million pounds (US$9.472 million) as a free loan. The money will be mainly used to improve Yunnan's ecological environment, eliminate poverty and help the province map out an environment protection plan.
The whole project is expected to be completed in 2005.
Yunnan has 114 counties, 73 of which are considered poverty-stricken ones.
(Xinhua 04/12/2001)
