Japan will provide 2.662 billion Japanese Yen (about US$22.4 million) to help China control tuberculosis in its poor areas and build shelter forests in the Yellow River valley, according to four agreements signed in Beijing Thursday.

Chinese Vice-Minister of Commerce An Min and Japanese Ambassador to China Koreshige Anami, on behalf of their respective governments, signed the Improvement of Solid Waste Management in Xi'an City, Tuberculosis Control in Poor Areas (Phase III) and Afforestation for Conservation of the Yellow River's Middle and Upper Reaches (Phases I and II).

An thanked the Japanese side for providing such a handsome amount of funds. He said the Ministry of Commerce will seriously guide local governments and people to use the funds properly so as to achieve the common goal aspired by the two sides.

Anami said Japan and China have maintained a very good momentum in economic cooperation and he hoped this momentum will be further developed.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, for the improvement of solid waste management in Xi'an city, Japan will provide waste-dealing vehicles and equipment. For tuberculosis control in poor areas, Japan will donate medicine and medical apparatuses. And for the afforestation for conservation of the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the two governments will plant trees on 4,200 and 6,000 hectares in north China's Shanxi Province and northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region respectively in the next three to five years.

(Xinhua News Agency August 15, 2003)