Sarawak, which houses the Bakun hydroelectric dam, is keen to learn the Chinese experience in handling the resettlement of communities affected by the Three Gorges dam.

State land development minister James Masing, who recently visited the resettlement areas in the vicinity of the Three Gorges Dam in China, obtained first-hand information on how the Chinese government planned to assist the displaced communities there.

NONE Masing and his delegation were briefed by the Mao Ding county officials on the resettlement plan besides visiting a housing resettlement area, villagers' service centre, other communal facilities as well as intensive agricultural activities, the ministry said in a statement today.

Spanning China's Yangtze River, the Three Gorges dam is the largest hydroelectric dam in the world.

In Sarawak, the locals affected by the Bakun project, which is expected to be operational by mid-next year, have been relocated to the Sungai Asap resettlement area near Belaga.

While in China, he also visited the Mengniu Dairy Farm factory, which was credited for the economic development and rural transformation of areas surrounding Hohhot, the capital city of the autonomous region of inner Mongolia.

- Bernama