The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) plans to earmark 1 billion yuan (131.6 million U.S. dollars) to help build infrastructure in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities during China's 11th "Five-Year" Plan period.

The Ministry of Finance will also allocate more than 1 billion yuan to improve the living conditions of ethnic groups and increase their incomes over the 2006-2010 period, according to the State Ethnic Affairs Commission (SEAC) on Friday.

The commission allocated 200 million yuan (about 25.4 million dollars), while the ministry allocated 162 million yuan (21.3 million dollars) supporting ethnic areas in 2006, said a SEAC official.

During the 10th "Five-Year" Plan (2001-2005) period, the NDRC invested 4.8 billion yuan (600 million US dollars) to help 1 million needy ethnic people move from remote and backward areas to new homes.

Source: Xinhua