CIDCA holds press conference on foreign aid and Belt and Road construction

Tian Lin, spokesperson of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) and director-general of the Department of International Cooperation of CIDCA, held a press conference to introduce China's foreign aid and its support to the construction of the Belt and Road on April 24.

More than 50 journalists from 49 countries, including India, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Pakistan and Nepal participated in the event.

China’s foreign aid has gone through nearly 70 years. At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, China began to provide assistance to developing countries within its ability despite great difficulties in its own economy. Since the reform and opening-up, especially since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government has adhered to the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, pragmatism, advancing with the times, adhering to the concept of sincerity and taking the right approach to justice and interests. China will steadily expand the scale of foreign aid, innovate its methods, and strive to enhance its benefits. This adherence has played an important role in helping developing countries enhance their independent capabilities and promote their economic and social growth, according to Tian.

Tian said that China is the largest developing country in the world. China's foreign aid belongs to the scope of South-South cooperation and mutual help among developing countries. In April last year, the Chinese government decided to establish the CIDCA. This was a major reform of the Chinese government's foreign aid system, and a milestone and new journey in the history of China's foreign aid.  

He said that supporting the construction of the Belt and Road is important for China's foreign aid. In recent years, China's foreign aid has upheld the principles of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, and has promoted China's policy communication, facility connectivity, trade smoothness, financing, and friendship between peoples of different countries. It has played a role in developing the economy and improving people's quality of life in the countries concerned.

The Chinese government is willing to work with the international community to strengthen Belt and Road construction and make new contributions to helping developing countries realize the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and build a community of shared destiny for mankind.