OREANDA-NEWS. May 30, 2013. This reporter recently learned from the Beijing Branch of CDB that the bank issued loans of RMB 200 million to go to the construction of an 25,000 mu (roughly 4,000 acres) afforestation project in Miyun County's plain region in 2013. This marks the first medium and long-term loan support from a financial institution for Beijing municipality's one million mu afforestion project in the plains region.

Since the beginning of winter last year, Beijing has repeatedly suffered from smog and haze, seriously impacting its people, and drawing significant concern from all levels of government and the general public. The one million mu afforestation project in the plains region of the capital is a priority project for the Beijing municipal government aimed to improve the people's livelihood.

The project is of great significance in the efforts to reduce PM2.5, accelerate environmental pollution control, and ease impact that smog and haze have on the public's health.
In a bid to solve the funding bottleneck of project construction, the Beijing Branch of CDB has had discussions with the Municipal Development and Reform Commission and relevant district (county) governments on several occasions. CDB has taken the lead, under the relatively mature conditions of Miyun county, to launch the early pilot work, and ultimately successfully granted RMB 200 million in medium and long-term loans to Miyun County's 2013 plains region afforestation project. The loans ensure strong funding for the smooth implementation of the project.

The loan is a useful attempt of social financing for ecological construction projects, and provides experience and an example for subsequent financing for the capital's one million mu plain region afforestion construction projects. Next, the Beijing Branch of CDB will fully step into its role as a leader in social capital, and provide long-term, stable funding support for the capital's 100 million mu plain region afforestation construction projects.