Speaking at the China Western Forum, which opened here Tuesday, Fu said although the increase in urban maintenance capital per person in the economically backward regions is actually higher than that of their eastern counterparts, the investment was mainly used to pay debt and construct badly needed projects.

Fu said she hopes that the future inflow of capital will be put into water saving systems, environmental protection and gas and heating systems.

She said investment in these fields will help improve the efficiency in utilizing the limited resources and contribute to the overall economic development.

(Xinhua News Agency 09/05/2001)