World Bank Loans Supporting West China DevelopmentThe World Bank (WB) will adopt more preferential policies to support China in developing its vast western region, a World Bank official said recently after an study tour of Gansu province in northwest China.China's development of its western region will provide more opportunities for cooperation between the Chinese government and the World Bank, the official added. By the end of June, Gansu has already implemented 21 WB-financed projects which use loans totaling US$653 million. And nine of the projects have been completed. These projects covering Gansu's 14 prefectures and cities involve agriculture, water control, forestry, education, public health, transportation and other sectors. According to the official, World Bank will focus on supporting the construction of water supply, environment protection, and pollution-control projects in western China in the future. World Bank is believed to have granted nearly US$35 billion in loans to facilitate some 220 projects in China over the past two decades. These projects involved effort in poverty-relief, water and soil erosion control and resettling of people residing in poor areas. |
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