China: From an Aid Recipient to an Emerging Major Donor

As an emerging economic superpower, China (the People’s Republic of China) is now rapidly increasing its presence in the arena of international development assistance. Although China has extended external assistance since 1950, one year after its independence, its foreign aid activities continue to remain ambiguous2 in comparison with those of OECD’s DAC member countries.3 However, in April 2011, China’s Information Office of the State Council issued its first White Paper articulating the principles of China’s foreign assistance policy.