Foreign and Military Affairs

EU launches reconstruction program with China

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-03-16 16:58

BEIJING - Bamboo is being used in the post-quake reconstruction in China's Sichuan province.

The EU launched a reconstruction program with quake-hit Sichuan on Tuesday in Beijing. EU will inject 1.9 million euros to work with the province to build eight sustainable bamboo production bases.

Johan Cauwenberg, Minister Counsellor, head of Operations, Delegation of the European Union to China and Mongolia said the EU has assisted in many initiatives to improve local people's livelihood after the strong quake measuring 8.0 rocked Sichuan. The bamboo program also showcases EU-China cooperation, he said.

Co-chair of the International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR) Board of Trustees Jiang Zehui said sustainable bamboo materials used in the reconstruction will better help local homes and school buildings to withstand natural disasters.

Coosje Hoogendoorn, the INBAR Director General said local people preferred the pre-fabricated bamboo homes they helped build than other emergency homes as they can be "set up very quickly, (and are) warmer, nicer to look at."

A Sichuan official surnamed Huang at the launch ceremony welcomed the initiative. "Rich in bamboo resources, environmentally-friendly bamboo products will boost the green industry and contribute to poverty alleviation and improve people's livelihood in Sichuan," Huang said.