Development Co‑operation Profiles: China, People's Republic of
Table of contents
The People’s Republic of China (hereafter “China”) has been providing development assistance for decades. It initially focused on technical assistance and South‑South co-operation, taking a low profile in terms of foreign policy priorities. However, since the establishment of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) in 2018, the domestic aid governance model reflects a dedicated role of China as a provider of development co-operation, coupled with a more assertive foreign policy and the ambition of global reach of China’s development co-operation.
This profile presents verified data on development assistance allocation. See the Development Co-operation Profiles.
In January 2021, China’s State Council published a new white paper “China’s international development cooperation in the new era”, which commits to supporting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, notably poverty reduction, food security, healthcare, quality education, gender equality, infrastructure, sustainable and innovative-driven economic growth, and environmental protection. The white paper stresses two pillars: 1) “foreign aid”, co-ordinated by CIDCA and mainly concessional loans; and 2) “international development co-operation”, which includes non-concessional loans and economic co‑operation under the Belt and Road Initiative. China also issued Measures for the Administration of Foreign Aid in 2021.
Since 2021, China has been advancing a new “Global Development Initiative” (GDI). To date, according to Chinese statements, more than 50 countries have joined the Group of Friends of the GDI and more than 100 countries have expressed their support. In 2022, the Center for International Knowledge on Development released a Global Development Report for the GDI (CIKD, 2022). According to the report, “the GDI offers Chinese solutions to the questions of our times, to making the post COVID-19 world a better place for everyone, and to building a community with a shared future for mankind” (CIKD, 2022: 35). In 2023, China formally inaugurated the Global Development Promotion Center Network under the CIDCA.
In July 2024, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China adopted a Resolution on Further Deepening Reform Comprehensively to Advance Chinese Modernisation, which proposed to “further reform institutions and mechanisms for foreign aid, to realise full chain-management” as new requirements for China’s international development co-operation in the new era.
Deepening Reform and Expanding Cooperation: China’s International Development Cooperation in a Changing Landscape
The 5th China and International Development Forum, entitled “Deepening Reform and Expanding Cooperation: China’s International Development Cooperation in a Changing Landscape”, was held on 8-13 December 2024. The forum was organised by the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation (CAITEC) and the United Nations Development Programme. It aimed to facilitate dialogue and exchanges to inform China’s international development co-operation and to foster collaborations and partnerships to accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Agenda.
The forum highlighted China’s evolving role as a provider of development co-operation with Chinese characteristics. It emphasised the need for continued reform and innovation in China, particularly in reviewing China’s development co-operation system and the role of its development co-operation agency CIDCA, with an outlook to strengthen the agency’s capacity and increase its role in the future. Discussions also identified key areas for enhancing co-operation between China and development partners to achieve greater SDG outcomes on a global scale, most notably on: aid management systems and data collection, development effectiveness, monitoring and evaluation, and promoting locally led development.
It is expected that CAITEC will consolidate the insights shared during the forum to inform future reform measures, policy development and implementation strategies for China’s international development co‑operation.
Sources: OECD; and UNDP (2024), “UNDP and CAITEC co-host Forum on Expanding Development Cooperation to Accelerate the SDGs”, https://www.undp.org/china/press-releases/undp-and-caitec-co-host-forum-expanding-development-cooperation-accelerate-sdgs.
According to OECD estimates, in 2023, China’s bilateral international development co-operation amounted to USD 3 billion, a stable volume compared to 2022.1
China engages in triangular co-operation and has a strategic policy for engaging in the modality, elaborated in the white paper “China’s international development cooperation in the new era”. It focuses on tripartite projects where China can contribute with its domestic experiences, aiming to enhance policy dialogue and knowledge exchange, and advance co-operation with international organisations. The white paper indicates a strong focus on agriculture and public health.
Learn more about triangular co-operation.
As a key national entity in development co-operation, CIDCA2 is in charge of formulating strategic guidelines, plans and policies for foreign aid; drafting country-specific aid policies; co‑ordinating and selecting foreign aid projects; signing foreign aid agreements with recipients; and oversight and evaluating projects. CIDCA has embraced some of the responsibilities and functions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce (the Department of Aid to Foreign Countries and part of the Department of Outward Investment and Economic Cooperation). CIDCA is not intended to be an implementing agency, but it is expected to design strategies, plans and policies for China’s foreign aid and evaluate its implementation. Mr. Zhaohui Luo was Chairman of CIDCA from 2021 to 2025. In April 2025, a new Chairman was appointed, Mr. Chen Xiaodong.
Project implementation is mainly carried out by the Ministry of Commerce’s subordinate agencies and specialised line ministries. The Ministry of Commerce is responsible for implementing the largest part of Chinese foreign aid projects, including turnkey, technical assistance, and material and human resource projects. It also manages the accreditation and selection of Chinese companies to implement foreign aid projects.
Access the full list of providers at this link: Development Co-operation Profiles.
China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA): en.cidca.gov.cn
CIDCA, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Commerce (2021), New Measures for the Administration of Foreign Aid by CIDCA, MFA and MOFCOM, china-aid-blog.com/2021/09/01/407
CIKD (2022), Global Development Report, Center for International Knowledge on Development, www.cikd.org/ms/file/getimage/1538692307220475905
Government of China (2021), “China’s international development cooperation in the new era”, white paper, State Council Information Office of the People’s Republic of China, en.cidca.gov.cn/2021-01/10/c_581228.htm
Schwarz, R. and M. Rudyak (2023), “China’s development co-operation”, OECD Development Co-operation Working Papers, No. 113, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://www.oecd.org/content/dam/oecd/en/publications/reports/2023/12/china-s-development-co-operation_ea34f6c2/2bbe45d2-en.pdf
China has been one of the OECD’s five Key Partners since 2007.
China is an Adherent to the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness.
The methodological notes provide further details on the definitions and statistical methodologies applied.
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← 1. Based on data from the Chinese Ministry of Finance, available at: http://yss.mof.gov.cn/2023zyjs/202407/t20240717_3939659.htm. However, the data detail neither the scope of foreign assistance nor detailed information such as aid amount by recipient country or outline of specific projects. OECD estimates include data comparable to official development assistance-like flows (“foreign aid” and ‘’international development co-operation’’), which excludes concessional loans from China’s export credit agency. Scholars (Kitano and Miyabayashi) and AidData provide higher estimates, but their data cover previous reporting periods.
← 2. In August 2021, China issued the Measures for the Administrations of Foreign Aid, which define the responsibilities and division of labour of the new CIDCA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce and other foreign aid implementation departments, as well as Chinese embassies and consulates abroad in the management of foreign aid.