Premier Wen Jiabao says the water-diversion project must meet international levels at the first plenary meeting of the State Council's Committee for the Construction of the South-North-Water-Diversion Project August 14, 2003.

China has launched 260 projects to curb water pollution along the eastern line of the south-to-north water-diversion scheme.

The projects are the largest of their kind, and involve total funding of 13.6 billion yuan (US$1.64 billion). They will be completed in two phases over the next five years.

(Selected from Chinadaily.com)