Government and Policy

China finds no corruption in foreign aid

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-26 13:29

BEIJING - Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Fu Ziying said here on Tuesday that China has not found a single case of corruption in its aid projects to foreign countries during the past six decades.

Related readings:  Diplomats get rare look at top Party organ that fights against corruption  Premier calls for stronger fight against corruption  Tackling corruption will be a long game  Wen renews anti-corruption call

Fu told a press conference that the Chinese government and governments in aid-receiving countries would work together to ensure the effectiveness and cleanness of Chinese foreign aid projects in those countries by closely monitoring and participating in such projects.

Fu said suspected corruption cases regarding Chinese foreign aid projects, if found, should be submitted to the judicial authorities in China or the recipients of the aid.

When asked about China's aid to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), the Chinese vice minister said China's aid to the DPRK mainly focused on industrial and agricultural production activities, as well as some infrastructure facilities construction projects.

China first began to provide foreign aid in 1950, when it provided material assistance to the DPRK and Vietnam.

By the end of 2009, China had offered aid to 161 countries and more than 30 international and regional organizations, according to a white paper on China's foreign aid published last week.

China provided 256.29 billion yuan ($38.54 billion) in aid to foreign countries, including 106.2 billion yuan in grants, 76.54 billion yuan in interest-free loans and 73.55 billion yuan in concession loans, according to the white paper.