China has afforested a total area of 1.4 million hectares over the past two years, with another 13 million hectares of land reclaimed from desertification.

The achievements come from a large afforestation project covering northern, northeastern and northwestern China. The project aims to form a shelter forest covering ten provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions.

China plans to invest another 400 million yuan, or more than US$48 million in afforestation in these areas this year.

(People's Daily May 26, 2003)