The Chinese government is planning to spend more on clean
drinking water in rural areas, said Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Tuesday.
"With increasing government revenue in the past few years, the
government should invest more in solving this problem," Wen said
when meeting experts from counselors' Office of the State Council
(COSC) and Central Research Institute of Culture and History.
Wang Bingchen, one of the experts from the COSC, raised the issue
of water pollution in rural areas and suggested raising subsidies
for water cleaning projects.
Wen admitted the investment was still too little although the
government planned to invest 40.3 billion yuan (US$5.36 billion) by
2010 to provide clean drinking water for 160 million rural
residents.
The experts, mostly members from democratic parties and
personages without party affiliation, also raised issues like
energy efficiency, education of children from one-child families,
civilian nuclear energy development and the protection of historic
cities.
The premier requested the experts offer more valuable proposals
to help the government improve its work.
"As knowledgeable and skilled professionals, you shall play a
greater part in the construction of the country," Wen said.
All About
Drinking water
Drought
(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2007)
