China welcomes foreign investors to participate in urban water supply and sewage disposal projects, said Construction Minister Wang Guangtao in Beijing Sunday.

Addressing an international symposium on the development of urban water-related projects, Wang said China will diversify the financing channel for the construction and operation of urban water projects.

China's water sector boasts ample business opportunities. Statistics showed that the investment in China's sewage disposal industry is to exceed 500 billion yuan (about US$60 billion).

By 2004, nearly half of sewage in various parts of China was discharged without treatment.

The symposium was attended by over 1,500 delegates from Chinese government, water companies, research institutes, domestic and overseas financial institutions.

(Xinhua News Agency October 31, 2005)