The World Bank Group Country Partnership Strategy (CPS), endorsed by the WB Board in May 2006, covers both lending and non-lending activities and is designed to support the five strategic themes consistent with China’s 11th Five Year Program: integrating China into the world economy, reducing poverty and inequality, addressing resource scarcities and environmental challenges, strengthening the financial sector, and improving market and public institutions.       

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The mid-term Country Partnership Strategy Progress Report completed in January 2009 determined that the Strategy is well on track to fulfill or exceed most strategic targets. The Progress Report notes that implementation of the CPS has largely proceeded as envisaged, however there has been a more intensified engagement in a number of areas, including: China’s integration into the world economy, especially regarding south-south learning; energy efficiency, environment and climate change; and, more recently, integrated urban-rural development. Bank support for disaster and risk management generally, and earthquake reconstruction, specifically, in the wake of the tragic May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake has been mobilized. The Bank is also providing support to help the Government in managing the impacts of the current global economic downturn.  

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In FY 2009 lending totalled approximately $2.3 billion in IBRD loans for 13 projects. These projects focus on urban environment improvement, transportation (urban transport, inland waterways, railways and provincial highways), vocational training, eco-farming, flood and watershed management, coal bed methane development and a cultural and natural heritage project. The Bank also supported reconstruction following the Wenchuan earthquake with a $710 million loan.

 

For FY10 we envisage lending in support of poverty reduction, eco-livestock development, food safety, sustainable forestry, urban environment and transport, river basin management, biomass heat power cogeneration and vocational education.  As in the past, these lending operations are knowledge based: successful pilots may be scaled up and replicated in other provinces or at the national level. 

       

 

 

See constantly updated WB lending data

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In addition to financial assistance, the provision of economic analysis, policy advice, technical assistance and training is an essential part of the Bank’s partnership with China. The Bank has responded to the country’s evolving needs, by having a better balance between comprehensive reports on issues requiring detailed technical analysis and more demand-driven rapid delivery brief policy notes, supplemented by other forms of collaboration such as senior-level workshops and focused study tours.

 

Key recently released major analyses include: Quarterly Economic Updates, a Poverty Assessment, a Mid-Term Evaluation of China’s 11th Five-Year Plan; as well as reports on promoting enterprise-led innovation, on addressing China’s water scarcity, and on developing a sustainable coal mining sector in China.  Other reports under preparation cover a wide range of issues including regional trade agreements, pension reform, health care reform, improving rural-urban linkages in Chongqing, addressing inequality in Guangdong, land market reform, sustainable energy, and financial sector development.  In January 2009, the Bank and the Ministry of Finance jointly convened a high level policy seminar to discuss policy options in the face of the global economic crisis.  IFC also has a large advisory services program.

 

The China Economic Reform Implementation project, a technical cooperation loan, was approved in FY 2006. A large program of technical assistance has also been financed by trust funds from within and outside the Bank, covering issues such as environmental management, financial sector reform, statistical reform, poverty issues, and social security.  The World Bank Institute carries out a wide range of training, peer learning and South-South knowledge exchange programs, including through use of the Global Development Learning Network.

 

China has also signed 16 carbon purchase agreements with the World Bank totaling USD 1.029 billion as of June 2009.

 

For more information about World Bank studies and reports on China, click here.

For more information about the World Bank’s work in China, visit: www.worldbank.org/cn

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International Finance Corporation (IFC): As of June 30, 2009, IFC had invested $4.287 billion in 169 projects across all major sectors (US$3.3 billion for IFC’s own account, and US$754 million for the account of participating banks and US$249 million is guarantees IFC provided). IFC’s early partners were mostly foreign investors, but now 85 percent of IFC’s clients are domestic companies. The investment program for FY 2009 is $290.2million.  

 

IFC's China strategy focuses on: 

• Sustainability and Climate Change, including environmental assessments, energy efficiency, renewable energy, water quality, exploitation of natural resources, etc.
• Access to Finance, including enhance SME lending in banks, implement microfinance strategy, rural finance, leasing, etc.
• Agriculture and Rural Livelihoods, including agricultural production and food security, food processing, agricultural linkages, rural banks, etc.
• Global China-IFC Partnership, including support for Chinese investments in emerging markets, joint support for global trade, regional and infrastructure funds, sharing China’s developmental lessons with other regions.

A resident IFC office in Beijing has been in operation since 1992. In July 2000, a joint IFC/World Bank regional office for private sector development was established in Hong Kong SAR, with management of this program decentralized to that office. In 2002, IFC opened an office in Chengdu to provide advisory services to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Western region of China. 

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World Bank Office in Beijing

Ms. Li Li
Phone: (86-10) 5861-7850
Fax: (86-10) 5861-7800
 

Washington, D.C.
Mr. Christopher Finch
Phone: (202) 458-8476
Fax:  (202) 614-1078

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