China and Japan announced Saturday the completion of a joint forestation project along the middle reaches of the Yellow River, China's second longest.

Under the project, the first of its kind that the Japanese government offered 1.47 billion yen (about 13.5 million US dollars)in free loan to China, 4,280 hectares of shelter forests have been established in three localities of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, which resides on the upper reaches of the Yellow River, to confine the movement of sand dunes, reduce the damage of desertification and improve people's living conditions.

Conducted by three Japanese firms since 2001, the forestation project have also assisted 54 local families in planting over 60 hectares of economic forests, and launched seven experiments on sand prevention and control.

The green coverage rate in the forestation areas has increased to 48 percent from the original 10 percent over the past years andachieved ideal social and economic benefits, according to the headof local forestation bureau.

Source: Xinhua