A river protection and water resources management program was launched yesterday in Beijing to provide better legislation, information, co-ordination and economic advice on water conservancy and sustainable development in agriculture.

The China Council of International Co-operation on Environment and Development under the State Council and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) jointly launched the Task Force on Integrated River Basin Management yesterday.

At a cost of US$735,000, the program is expected to provide expertise from consultants to dozens of water protection projects along the Yangtze River.

(China Daily March 28, 2003)