A senior government official said Friday that foreign capital is welcome to participating in China's environmental protection industry.

Xie Zhenhua, director of the State Environmental Protection Administration, told a news conference that the output value of China's environmental protection is about 170 billion yuan (about 20.56 billion US dollars) a year, and is growing at an annual rate of 15 percent. It is predicted that from 2001 to 2005, the total investment in environmental protection will reach 700 billion yuan.

He said that China's environmental protection industry has great potential and enjoys a bright future. Market opportunities can be found in many environmental protection sectors including urban sewage farms, refuse dump, power plants, motor vehicle exhaust and consultation services.