China to launch 150 major water conservation projects

China plans to launch another 150 major water conservancy projects with a total investment of 1.29 trillion yuan ($184 billion) to enhance the country's flood and drought relief capabilities, according to the National Development and Reform Commission.

These projects, the plans of which were heard at an executive meeting of the State Council on July 8, will increase the country's storage capacity in reservoirs by 9 billion cubic meters, said Su Wei, deputy secretary-general of the commission, at a news conference on Monday.

Reinforcement work will be carried out for 2,950 kilometers of river courses, he added.

"These projects will play an effective role in spurring domestic demand and stimulating economic growth," he noted.

In total, they are expected to drive 6.6 trillion yuan of direct and indirect investment. On average, they will create a cumulative 800,000 job opportunities a year, he said.

In May 2014 at another executive meeting of the State Council, it was decided to roll out 172 major water conservancy projects, and construction on 142 had started by the end of 2019, Su said.

Among the 30 remaining, 17 are included in the latest plan and the others are temporarily suspended, he added.