04/12/2001
China Daily

The Chinese Government and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the British Government have jointly kicked off a project aimed at helping protect the environment and eradicate poverty in Southwest China's Yunnan Province.

The DFID of the British Government will provide a total of 6.8 million pounds (US$9.5 million) as an interest-free loan for the project. The money will be mainly used to improve Yunnan's environment, eliminate poverty and help the province map out an environmental protection plan.The entire project is expected to be completed by 2005.

Yunnan has 114 counties, 73 of which are considered to be poverty-stricken.