During the 2006-2010 period, the Chinese government will increase its investment in six fields including rural construction, development of the middle and western areas of the country, social causes, science and technology, environmental protection and infrastructure construction.

Yang Qingwei, director of the investment bureau of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) made the remark in Beijing recently.

A large number of rural projects will be accelerated in the next five years so as to improve farmers' production and living conditions and safeguard safety concerning water drinking, Yang said.

The balanced development of different regions is an important task for the five-year period, so the government will continue to increase its investment in vast western areas, and northeast provinces, he said.

The government will also enhance investment in compulsory education, public health and other social causes, and offer help to lift up China's capability of innovation, he said.

The government will support the research and development of high-speed railway, new energy technology and other advanced technology, he said.

The government will speed up some environment-friendly projects including the Huai River improvement project, urban waste water and garbage disposal, protecting grassland from pastures and the construction of natural reserve zones, he said.

The government is still formulating a detailed plan on infrastructure construction in the next five years, but it is clear so far that the south-to-north water diversion project, major water control projects in Guangxi and Xinjiang as well as airport construction in western China will receive support from the government, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency November 15, 2005)