The Chinese government invested 111.9 billion yuan (14 billion U.S. dollars) in environmental protection between 2001 and 2005, a government white paper said Monday.

Of the total input, 108.3 billion yuan (13.5 billion dollars) from treasury bond proceeds was mainly used to control the dust storm sources threatening Beijing and Tianjin, to protect natural forests and to turn cultivated farmland back into forests or pastures, says the white paper.

The white paper titled "Environmental Protection in China (1996-2005)" was issued by the Information Office of China's State Council, or the cabinet.

This part of money also went to the control of pollution around the Yangtze River's Three Gorges Dam area and its upstream, as well as pollution on the Huaihe, Liaohe and Haihe rivers, Taihu, Dianchi and Chaohu lakes, for commercial reuse and recycling of sewage and garbage, and wastewater reclamation.

Since 1998, the State has focused investment from treasury bond proceeds on environmental infrastructure construction, bringing along a large amount of social investment, the white paper says.

Between 1996 and 2004, the investment in environmental pollution control reached 952.27 billion yuan (119 billion dollars), amounting to one percent of the gross domestic product for the same period.

In 2006, expenditure on environmental protection was formally itemized in the State's financial budget, according to the white paper.

Source: Xinhua