The Canadian Government plans to extend its aid to China's fight against pollution, according to senior Chinese and Canadian officials.

"The Canadian Government has agreed to increase its co-operation in cleaner production and, next year, we will discuss detailed steps," said R.C. Lao, resident project manager of the Canada-China Project on Cleaner Production under the Canadian International Development Agency.

Lao said Canada will help some of China's steel and textile factories in western regions clean up their act, in line with Chinese environmental requirements.

Lao did not specify the amount Canada would donate.

China and Canada have started the second phase of cleaner production co-operation, which will end by 2005.

About US$3.4 million has been donated by the Canadian Government for projects from 2003-05.

The project group has started cleaner production training and restructuring in Gansu Province and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to cut pollution in oil and non-metallic sectors, with the help of the State Economic and Trade Commission and State Environmental Protection Administration.

The two countries began the project in 1997. From 1997 to 2002, about US$8 million was donated by the Canadian Government to reduce pollution in old industrial centers.

(China Daily February 13, 2003)