A loan of $100 million was approved by the Asian Development Bank on Aug 23 to help North China's Shanxi province improve the management of its water resources and environment.

The loan will be used in a project to protect water resources and improve the environment in urban and rural areas of the province. Zuoquan county, where one third of the population lives below the poverty line, will be a pilot region for the project.

Technologies and policies will be taken advantage of to ensure that more than 98,000 locals can have a safe and adequate water supply, as well as better sanitation facilities. The project will also help enhance the county’s ability to adapt to changes in the climate, and complete a flood protection system by restoring vegetation, installing new water drainage, and building a protective embankment.

Founded in 1966, the Asian Development Bank is a regional government financial development organization committed to boosting the economic growth of developing countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

Apart from financial support from the bank, China's government will invest $52.10 million in the project.