China Issues 2nd Foreign Aid White Paper
Philippa Brant, “China’s Foreign Aid White Paper: Quick Overview,” The Lowy Interpreter, 10 July 2014.
Today, the Chinese Government released its much-awaited second White Paper on Foreign Aid. It’s been in the pipeline for a while, as I’ve noted a number of times, and follows the first white paper published in April 2011.
So what does it say?
First, it is an overview of China’s foreign assistance from 2010-2012, rather than a forward-looking strategy. But this is an improvement on the first paper, which was an overview of the entire aid program across its 60-year history.
How much?
Over the 2010-12 three-year period, the White Paper says China provided US$14.41 billion of aid….
Lu Hui, “China Issues White Paper on Foreign Aid,” Xinhua, 10 July 2014.
… China first began to provide foreign aid in 1950, when it provided material assistance to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea and Vietnam, according to an earlier white paper on foreign aid issued in 2011.
Before the updates on foreign aid from 2010 to 2012, China had offered aid to 161 countries and more than 30 international and regional organizations, already providing 256.29 billion yuan in aid to foreign countries, data from the previous white paper showed.
From 2010 to 2012, over half of China’s foreign aid went to African nations, according to the new white paper.
During the period, China provided foreign assistance in forms such as undertaking complete projects, dispatching medical teams and volunteers, offering emergency humanitarian aid, and reducing or exempting the debts of the recipient countries.
Recipient countries of China’s foreign aid from 2010 to 2012 included 51 African nations, 30 Asian countries, nine in Oceania, 19 in Latin America and the Caribbean and 12 European countries.
Besides, China also provided assistance to regional organizations such as the African Union, according to the white paper. …
In total, China undertook the construction of 580 projects in 80 countries, including 80 hospitals, 85 schools and 156 economic infrastructure facilities.
Also, China relieved nine least developed countries and heavily indebted poor countries, namely, Tanzania, Zambia, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Mali, Togo, Benin, Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan, from 16 mature interest-free loans totaling 1.42 billion yuan. …
Related:
Full Text: China’s Foreign Aid
White paper details China’s foreign aid priorities
BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — The Chinese government announced on Thursday that poverty reduction and improvement of people’s livelihood have been important objectives in its assistance to other developing nations in recent years. Full story
China promotes new strategic partnership with Africa: white paper
BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — China promoted a New China-Africa Strategic Partnership with the continent, according to a white paper released by the Information Office of the State Council on Thursday. Full story
China’s aid promotes economic, social development in recipient countries
BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — China has actively helped other developing countries in infrastructure construction, and assisted their efforts in strengthening capacity building and trade development, said a white paper on China’s foreign aid released on Thursday. Full story
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BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — China allocated 89.34 billion yuan (14.41 billion U.S. dollars) for foreign assistance from 2010 to 2012, in the forms of grant, interest-free loan and concessional loan, said a white paper on China’s foreign aid released Thursday. Full story
China promotes practical cooperation with ASEAN: white paper
BEIJING, July 10 (Xinhua) — Promoting practical cooperation with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has been part of China’s foreign aid policy, said a white paper released by the Information Office of the State Council on Thursday. Full story
China’s Foreign Aid (2014) (Beijing: Information Office of the State Council, The People’s Republic of China, July 2014).
Preface
I. Developing Foreign Assistance Cause Steadily
II. Helping Improve People’s Livelihood
III. Promoting Economic and Social Development
IV. Foreign Assistance under Regional Cooperation Mechanism
V. Participation in International Exchanges and Cooperation
Conclusion
Preface
China is the world’s largest developing country. In its development, it has endeavored to integrate the interests of the Chinese people with people of other countries, providing assistance to the best of its ability to other developing countries within the framework of South-South cooperation to support and help other developing countries, especially the least developed countries (LDCs), to reduce poverty and improve livelihood. China has proactively promoted international development and cooperation and played a constructive role in this aspect.
When providing foreign assistance, China adheres to the principles of not imposing any political conditions, not interfering in the internal affairs of the recipient countries and fully respecting their right to independently choosing their own paths and models of development. The basic principles China upholds in providing foreign assistance are mutual respect, equality, keeping promise, mutual benefits and win-win.
In recent years, China’s foreign assistance has kept growing. The following is an introduction of China’s foreign assistance from 2010 to 2012. …
