China has decided to invest 285 million yuan (34.3 million US dollars) in the next five years on new projects aimed at improving ecological conditions around the Tarim River, the longest inland river in China.

Running a total of 1,321 kilometers, the Tarim River flows through Xinjiang, China's largest provincial-level autonomous region with an area of some 1.65 million square kilometers.

The deteriorating ecology caused by over-logging in 1970s and desertification have long been a concern for both state and regional governments as well as world organizations.

The World Bank has provided 125 million US dollars in loans for the last six years to improve the conditions in the area. The Chinese government recently applied for a new loan of 150 million dollars from the World Bank.

According Mao Xiaohui, chief engineer of the Tarim River Management Bureau, construction is underway of some water projects which include a reservoir and 23 sluice gates. A computer network monitoring water data of the river has also been completed and is operational.

While inspecting water projects along the river last month, Qian Zhengying, former minister of water resources, said that efforts to improve the ecology in the area are vital to the sustainable growth of Xinjiang and China's western areas as a whole. (Xinhua)