January 29, 2010 -- Over the past 2 years, a total of 1.5 billion yuan from the central budget was invested in environmental projects and ecological demonstration zones in China's 2,165 villages.

According to a rough estimation, local governments have also invested more than 5 billion yuan in the above-mentioned projects and zones as a result of a chain reaction triggered by the funds from the central budget, directly benefiting more than 13 million rural residents.

An official from the Ministry of Finance said that more money from the central budget will be injected into relevant projects starting 2010 and a special fund of 12 billion yuan will be allocated in the next 3 years.