China and the Netherlands have started a community health care project in this port city in Shandong Province.
In the next three years, experts sent by the Dutch government will help Qingdao train medical professionals, said Liu Zhiyuan, director of the Qingdao Board of Health.
Liu said that by the year 2003 the city will have 100 doctors and 100 nurses, as well as 400 epidemic prevention and 400 maternity and child health personnel.
The Netherlands will also provide medical equipment for the project, he said.