Director of the State Forestry Administration, Zhou Shengxian, said in Beijing Wednesday that 13,401 forest fires broke out in China 2004.

Zhou said although the number of forest fires in 2004 increased from the previous year, but the area of forests affected by those fires decreased against the backdrop of global-warming and frequent forest fires worldwide.

In 2004, 13,401 forest fires occurred, up 28.1 percent year-on-year and 142,771 hectares of forests were affected, down 68.3 percent, government figures show.

"Chinese government has enhanced its ability in forest fire control," he said.

In 2004, the central government has injected special funds valued 300 million yuan (US$36.28 million) to initiate 46 key high-tech projects for the forecast, supervision, prevention and control of forest fires.

(Xinhua News Agency January 13, 2005)