Agreements for two aid projects were signed on Monday for Japan to provide US$9.5 million to help the government train officials and protect the environment.

The Human Resource Development Scholarship will receive US$6.14 million to pay fees for Chinese officials studying in Japan

The Afforestation for Conservation of the Middle Yellow River (Phase II) will benefit from US$3.35 million to purchase labor and machinery for tree planting in northern China's Shanxi Province.

Japan has offered US$1.25 billion worth of aid to China since 1981, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

(Xinhua News Agency June 7, 2005)