Forest coverage has reached more than 12 percent in western China, an increase of four percent from five years earlier.

The increase is attributable to the government's investment of 80 billion yuan (nearly US$10 billion), to build forestry in the region, accounting for half of the total investments in the whole country.

Director of the State forestry Bureau, Zhou Shengxian, says China will continue its investment of improving the ecological environment in its western regions.

(CRI July 18, 2005)