China plans to start its second national land survey before 2010, said an official with the Land and Resources Ministry (MLR) on Monday.

 

The survey will collect details about land use in all cities and counties, and 95 percent of villages in China, said Fan Zhiquan, director of the land ownership department of the MLR.

 

A national database is expected to be established after the results are collated and Fan said the survey will help the government improve its understanding of the current land use situation and map out effective policies to tighten land and resources management.

 

China started to conduct its first national land survey in 1984 and most of the data is now out of date, said Fan.

 

The second national land survey will focus on construction land, cultivated land and farmland, he added. However he did not say when the survey is scheduled to be completed.

 

The Chinese government announced on Monday a package of land management measures to strengthen macroeconomic control and cool down the economy.

 

Chinese Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan said that China will intensify its efforts to stamp out illegal land use.

 

A nationwide campaign is set to be launched to punish local officials who approve illegal construction and industrial projects and transfer land use rights at a low price.

 

China's economy grew 10.9 percent in the first half of the year, largely driven by excessive use of land for industrial projects and abundant credit loans.

 

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2006)