North China's Hebei Province is encouraging private enterprises to invest in farmland water conservancy projects this year, said Song Enhua, vice-governor of the province.

The projects would include channels, reservoirs and irrigation projects, said Song, and all private water resources works would be treated equally with those funded by the state or by foreign investors.

Private investors could develop aquaculture, in which they could have decision-making power over operations and would take entire responsibility for profits or losses, Song said.

Governments of all levels in Hebei would support the private economic sector in farmland water resources construction, said Song.

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2004)