China is putting its green thumb in soils to save water.

Vice-Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei says China has treated a total of 260,000 square kilometers' of land over the past five years in its efforts to conserve water and prevent soil erosion.

Speaking at a meeting on water and soil conservation in central China's Wuhan city, Chen Lei noted the past five years saw the fastest and most effective form of water and soil conservation.

During the period, the central government invested about 815 million US dollars in this environmental sector.

Thanks to the efforts, he says ecological conditions have improved remarkably, and China will reap the benefits of this in years to come.

(cri.com May 4, 2003)