Int'l Symposium on Poverty Relief-Strategy ClosedAt the recently closed international symposium on China's poverty-relief strategy for the early 21st century, Sha Liwen, vice-president of the Asia Development Bank (ADB), said that the ADB will provide China with a US$ 3.5 billion loan for its poverty-relief program in the next three years, and 60-70 percent of which will be channeled into the poverty-stricken areas in the western region of China.This is one among the many letters of intent signed at the symposium, that drew the participation of an international organization in China's cause of helping the poor. Through the symposium, substantial progress has been made in the cooperation between the Chinese government and international organizations in the field of fighting poverty, said Gao Hongbin, director of the Poverty-Relief Office under the State Council. Before and during the symposium, a lot of discussions and consultations have been conducted between the Office and the British Overseas Development Program, the Japanese Cooperation Bank, the Asia Development Bank, and the World Bank, with marked progress and actual results. The World Bank and the Overseas Development Program have mapped out a comprehensive plan for trans-regional and trans-industrial poverty fighting; the Asia Development Bank and Japanese Cooperation Bank are also making preparations for discussion on specific items. |
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