IN BRIEF (Page 5)

Beijing

Premier stresses water conservation

Premier Li Keqiang has urged local authorities to improve farmland water conservation facilities to protect farmers' interests and accelerate the development of modern agriculture. In an instruction at a meeting on the issue, Li called for an improved financing mechanism for water projects and for more private capital to be brought in to fund construction. Water conservation infrastructure is an important part of agricultural development, and could help safeguard national food security, he said. China has attached great importance to improving its underdeveloped water conservation system. The Ministry of Water Resources estimated that some 238 billion yuan ($37.5 billion) was spent on water conservation projects in poor areas from 2011 to 2015.