The governments of Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and China's quake-stricken Sichuan province Thursday signed an agreement which will see the SAR finance 23 reconstruction projects in Sichuan.

According to the agreement, the SAR government will earmark 933million yuan (137 million US dollars) for the projects, comprising four health facilities, 16 education facilities and three sports facilities, which will be completed by 2011.

Previously, the SAR government has already announced the funding of some 59 reconstruction projects in Sichuan, the cost of which amounts to three billion yuan (380 million dollars). Most of the 59 projects have been carried out, of which school projects will be completed early next year at the latest.

Aside from the existing projects, the SAR government said in a statement that it will continue to finance reconstruction projects in Sichuan, the third batch of which was still being reviewed by the Sichuan provincial government and will be recommended to the SAR government for assessment later.

The magnitude-8.0 quake that occurred in Sichuan last year left more than 69,000 people dead and damaged a large number of buildings.

(Xinhua News Agency August 14, 2009)