LANZHOU, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Water cellar, a typical way of collecting rainfall in this thirsty province of Gansu in northwest China, attracted more than 60 technicians from 30 developing countries.

    A training program on rainwater catchment technologies was kicked off Tuesday in this provincial capital, offering free opportunities to the 60 trainees from Africa, Asia and Caribbean regions.

    Sponsored by the Ministries of Commerce, the program will arrange courses concerning rainfall utilization in the rural area, rainwater project design, construction and management, irrigation and some other fields.

    Trainees will also carry out field study, visit local residents and participate in the constitution of water cellars, an effective way developed by local people to reserve rainwater for daily use against a dry climate.

    China has built 12 million water cellars across some 700 counties in 13 regions over the past two decades, providing drinking water to 36 million population and irrigating 2670,000 hectares of farmland.

    Chrisiopher Greendige, a trainee from Grenada, said the program offered him a precious chance to learn about China's rainwater catchment technologies. He would use what he learned here to help his own country, where most freshwater are from rainfall and groundwater.

    It was the fourth time China held the program, which has attracted more than 100 technicians from 40 countries and regions since 2003.