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Aid Activities in China

The Australian Government, through the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), has provided almost 30 years of development assistance to China. AusAID continues to work in partnership with China to build on these achievements and provide expertise to help China in its development reform agenda.

China Country Program Strategy

The Strategy focuses on supporting China's development and reform agenda through targeted policy engagement, high level capacity building and partnerships in the three key sectors of governance, environment and health. The Strategy's goal is to further mutual national interest by supporting China's balanced development policies and working together in the region. The three objectives of the CPS are to:

  • Build capacity in selected sectors in China, in particular governance, environment and health;
  • Enhance the Australia - China relationship by building institutional linkages; and
  • Work collaboratively with China to strengthen the region.

The Strategy has guided a shift in the focus of Australian development cooperation from poverty alleviation projects in the provinces to national level policy engagement. With the exception of Tibet and the AusAID regional HIV/AIDS program, provincial projects have been phased out. The program is now centred around three funding facilities designed to respond to Chinese priorities and draw on Australian expertise.

See China Australia Country Program Strategy 2006-2010

Environment

Rapid economic development in China over the past two decades has caused severe environmental problems. Competing demands for natural resources to bring about rapid industrialisation and urbanisation has led to high levels of pollution, ecological degradation and water shortages.

There is increasing awareness in China for the need to balance the environment and economic growth. Tackling environmental issues and managing natural resources is a high priority of the Chinese Government.

Future Australian development cooperation in the environment sector will be channelled through the Australia China Environment Development Program (ACEDP) that commenced in July 2007.

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Health

Health-related activities support the ongoing development of China's capacity to halt and reverse the spread of HIV, protect its population against emerging infectious diseases and strengthen its health systems. Under these three technical areas, assistance targets high level capacity building, policy engagement and institutional linkages between Australia and China.

Australia is recognised internationally for its effective harm-reduction approaches to HIV/AIDS. Australia's engagement focuses on multi-sectoral and prevention-based approaches to reduce HIV transmission through continued engagement with high-risk groups. This builds on Australia's internationally recognised expertise in harm minimisation and community mobilisation.

Australia will also provide expertise in health surveillance, disease control strategies and emergency response planning systems to help China control communicable diseases that pose risks to national and regional health security.

Future Australian development cooperation in the health sector will be channelled through the new China Australia Health & HIV/AIDS Facility (CAHHF) that commenced in August 2007.

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Governance

China continues to undertake an ambitious program of reform to ensure balanced development. Priorities in the 11th Five Year Plan include government administration, fiscal, taxation, state owned economy, financial system, trade, legal and regulatory reform.

China is also giving more attention to the social and political impacts of reform, particularly the inequality and development gaps that have emerged because of rapid and uneven economic growth. Whilst considerable achievements have been made in reducing poverty, further reductions will need comprehensive structural, institutional and legal reform, complemented by improvements in basic service delivery.

Australia development cooperation with China in the governance sector will be guided by China's own reform agenda within its balanced development policy framework (addressing issues of equity, sustainable growth, transparency, and participation), to improve China's own investments in poverty reduction, market reform, service delivery and social protection.

Future Australian development cooperation in the governance sector will be channelled through the China Australian Governance Program (CAGP) that commenced in 2004. CAGP supports China's governance reform and development agenda in areas of mutual interest to China and Australia.

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Above: Midwife Wo Ma in a Clinic of Dangxiong County, part of the AusAID Tibet Health Sector Support Project. (Photo: THSSP)

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June 2009

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