The Ryusgo Industrial Co. Ltd. of Japan recently decided to invest 10 million yuan to help Yunnan Province in southwest China develop its pseudo-ginseng resources.

Pseudo-ginseng, a drug raw material, is said to be capable of invigorating blood circulation, relieving pain, and reducing swelling.

The Zhuang-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Wenshan in southeastern Yunnan will use the fund to build a 66.7-ha pollution- free pseudo-ginseng production base with technology imported from Japan. The first phase of the project will cover 6.7 ha.

The prefecture has planted pseudo-ginseng for over 400 years, and the output of its pseudo-ginsing growing-area accounts for more than 80 percent of the world's total.

Situated in the tropics, Yunnan is known as the country's kingdom of plants, and the province has decided to focus on developing its diversified biological resources and make this a pillar industry.