BEIJING, Oct. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- China plans to double its sewage disposal capacity between 2006 and 2010, which will offer potential commercial chances with business volume topping 300 billion yuan (about 37 billion US dollars), said an official with the Ministry of Construction Monday.

    China welcomes overseas investors to participate in the construction and management of the country's sewage disposal projects, said Zhang Yue, director of the urban construction department of the ministry when addressing an international symposium on the development of urban water-related projects.

    Presently, China's sewage disposal rate stands at merely 45.6 percent, leaving more than half of the country's sewage dischargedwithout treatment, the official said.

    China has raised the target of disposing over 60 percent of thesewage in all the urban areas by 2010, and set the disposal rate at 70 percent in the provincial capital cities, scenic cities and other major cities.

    To ensure market returns for foreign investors, China has set up a new charging system which boosts virtuous circle in sewage disposal and ensures profits for investors in the sector, the official said.

    The sewage disposal projects include construction of sewage treatment plants and pipelines, the official said, adding that 40 billion yuan (4.9 billion US dollars) is needed to replace the oldpipelines in the country's urban areas which have been used for over 50 years. Enditem