During the first eight months of the year, Dongying, one of the two major cities in the delta, alone reported 3,300 projects funded by investors from outside the province. Of these projects, about 30 percent are overseas-funded.

These new ventures are mainly engaged in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, real estate and trade.

Local experts referred to the increasing investment inflow as a result of the improving business environment in the delta.

They said that of China's three large delta areas along the Pearl, the Yangtze and the Yellow rivers, only the Yellow River still needs to be exploited on a large scale.

The central and local governments have put the Yellow River Delta at the top of their agenda, and the United Nations Development Program also has a program to assist the delta's development that has been given priority for the next century.

(Xinhua 10/25/2000)