
XINING, Dec. 25 (Xinhua) -- Japan has embarked on the post-project evaluation of a series of loans targeting ecological conservation in northwest China's Qinghai Province, the provincial forestry and grassland administration said Wednesday.
The program, launched in 2009 and completed in 2017 to protect Qinghai Lake, China's largest inland salt lake, was the first time that the province used foreign government loans for environmental preservation.
It was intended to restore vegetation and maintain a healthy and stable ecosystem in the lake region by afforestation, restoration of deteriorated grasslands, monitoring and other methods, said Gao Jingyu, deputy head of the administration.
Total investment amounted to 520 million yuan (about 74.3 million U.S. dollars), of which 400 million yuan was drawn from yen loans, said Gao.
Evaluators from the International Development Center of Japan will conduct their reviews through meetings with officials, symposium talks and site visits.
Home to the headwaters of the Yangtze, Yellow and Lancang rivers, Qinghai is known as "Asia's water tower" and an important ecological shelter zone in western China.
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
"She power" plays indispensable role in poverty alleviation
Top 10 world news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 China news events of People's Daily in 2020
Top 10 media buzzwords of 2020
Year-ender:10 major tourism stories of 2020
No interference in Venezuelan issues
Biz prepares for trade spat
Broadcasting Continent
Australia wins Chinese CEOs as US loses