China's forestry industry will open further to the outside world to meet growing demand, a top forestry official said yesterday.

Lei Jiafu, vice-director of the administration, said that with the country's annual demand for timber and wood-made products stands at more than 300 million cubic meters, while its existing forests can only supply 60 percent of that demand.

According to Li Zujiao, director of the administration's economic development research center, China will consume 18.5 billion cubic meters of forest resources in the next 50 years.

Such an amount is 1.6 times that of the total amount of the existing forest resources in China, he said.

Lei said all parties from abroad are welcomed to take part in afforestation, the forestry industry, forestry byproduct processing, and trading in forestry products through various means.

(Xinhua News Agency October 27, 2003)