30 Years of ADB-PRC Partnership
For 30 years, ADB has been steadily supporting the People's Republic of China during its astounding economic and social development progress. In this timeline, we review some of the highlights of a partnership that has contributed to the success of one of the most remarkable poverty alleviation programmes in history.
1985
Government representative Che Peiqin (left) presenting the PRC’s membership application to ADB President Fujioka. The application was accepted in March 1986.
1986
Chen Muhua, State Councilor, Governor of the People’s Bank of China and the PRC Governor for ADB, attending ADB’s 19th Annual Meeting in Manila.
1987
ADB’s lending operations in the PRC start with a focus on the industrial sector and financial institutions located in the country's coastal region.
1989
ADB celebrates its 22nd Annual Meeting in Beijing, the first to be held in the PRC. President Yang Shangkun at the opening ceremony.
1989
ADB's first infrastructure project is approved.
The Xiaoliu Railway Project comprised the construction of 44 km of track between Zhongyang and Mucun. Construction of the railway was completed in October 1993.
1991/1992
A project for the development of the Shanghai: Nanpu and Yangpu bridges is approved.
Read how the phenomenal growth rate of Shanghai's Pudong area is linked to this infrastructure project: Bridges Bring Boom.
1993
ADB lending to the PRC reaches $1 billion.
1994
The Dalian Water Supply project, ADB’s first in the water sector, is designed to provide clean water to more than 2 million people.
1998
The Guizhou-Shuibai Railway is approved. ADB’s lending operations in the PRC increasingly shifted from the country's coastal region to its less developed central and western regions.
1999
The Suzhou Creek Rehabilitation project is approved. The project played an important role in Shanghai's development.
Read how reviving a historic waterway contributed to this city's progress.
1999
ADB financed the PRC’s first build-operate-transfer (BOT) project in the water sector – Chengdu No. 6 Water Plant.
2000
ADB Resident Mission in the PRC (PRCM) opens in Beijing.
2001
The 16-volume Laws and Regulations of the PRC is published with ADB’s technical assistance to finance its English translation.
2002
ADB celebrates its 35th Annual Meeting in Shanghai.
Video: Clear Vision, Cleaner Future
2003
Bruce Murray, the first ADB Country Director to the PRC, receives the PRC’s Friendship Award.
2004
The Shanxi Coal Mine Methane Development Project is approved, having found an innovative solution to capture highly explosive methane gas as a source of clean energy.
2005
PRC contributes $30 million to the Asian Development Fund and establishes the $20 million PRC Regional Cooperation and Poverty Reduction Fund. The PRC is the first developing country to create such a fund with an international financial institution and starts its new roles as donor and resource country for experience and knowledge sharing in development.
2005
The 2nd Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Summit is held in Kunming, Yunnan Province.
News Releases:
Kunming Declaration: 'A Stronger GMS Partnership for Common Prosperity'
2005
The first "Panda Bond" for a value of 1 billion Yuan is issued. This is the first local currency bond by an international development institution.
News Release: ADB Launches 1 Billion Yuan Panda Bonds in China
2006
The 5th CAREC Ministerial Conference is held in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
News Release: Ministers Adopt Action Plan to Accelerate Regional Cooperation in Central Asia
2006
ADB's Regional Knowledge Hub for Climate Change is established with Tsinghua University in Beijing.
News Release: ADB Establishes Climate Change Knowledge Hub at University in Beijing
2006
ADB Vice-President Bindu Lohani accepts the Green China Champions award.
2007
A technical assistance project is launched to pilot test NGOs participation in village poverty alleviation and development planning.
Impact Story: People's Republic of China: Tapping a New Well
2008
The Guangdong Energy Efficiency and Environment Improvement Investment Program is approved, one of the first large-scale energy efficiency projects in the PRC.
Case Study: People's Republic of China: Clean and Efficient Energy in Guandong Province
2008
Video: Rebuilding PRC Schools after the Wenchuan Earthquake
Photos
ADB provides $400 million emergency assistance is following the Wenchuan earthquake.
ADB Project: China, People's Republic of: Emergency Assistance for Wenchuan Earthquake Reconstruction Project
2009
$1 billion is allocated for railway development to promote energy efficiency and railway safety.
Related: China, People's Republic of: Railway Safety Enhancement Project
2009
The Case Study on South–South Cooperation: PRC–ADB Knowledge-Sharing Platform is launched.
Case Study: Case Study on South-South Cooperation: PRC-ADB Knowledge-Sharing Platform
2009
ADB and China Everbright International establish a partnership to develop waste-to-energy plants.
Video: Turning Waste into Electricity in Suzhou, People's Republic of China
2009
A knowledge sharing workshop on rural hydropower development is held in Lanzhou, Gansu Province.
Case Study: People’s Republic of China: Switching on to Clean Energy
2010
In 2010 and 2014, ADB provided technical assistance to support the preparation of PRC's 12th and 13th Five-Year Plan, respectively.
2010
A coal-based integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power project is approved – the first of its kind in a developing country worldwide.
Case Study: PRC’s Tianjin Breathing Easier with Cleaner Coal Power
2010
The first international Renminbi bond is issued in Hong Kong, China.
Speeches:
Launch and Media Briefing of International RMB Bonds – Xiaoyu Zhao
Launch of Offshore Renminbi Bonds – Bindu N. Lohani
2010
The ADB-PRC Urban Knowledge Hub is established with Tongji University, Shanghai.
Article: Building Strong Cities in the People’s Republic of China
2010
A regional workshop on transport infrastructure is held under the PRC-ADB Knowledge Sharing Platform.
2011
The ADB Resident Mission in the PRC celebrates its tenth year anniversary and the opening of its new office.
2012
ADB organizes the first best performing loan project awards.
2013
ADB launches its website in Chinese: cn.adb.org and its Chinese social media Weibo account: www.weibo.com/asiandevelopmentbank.
2014
ADB signs a Memorandum of Understanding on climate change with PRC’s National Development and Reforms Commission and the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
News Release: ADB President Assures PRC Vice Premier of Strong Support for Reforms, Environment, and Poverty Reduction
2014
Video: PRC Knowledge Hub on Green Development and Eco-Compensation Established with ADB Support
A Knowledge Hub on Green Growth and Eco-compensation is launched.
News Release: PRC Knowledge Hub on Green Development and Eco-Compensation Established with ADB Support
2015
The first result-based loan of $150 million to support reform program of technical and vocational education and training in Guizhou province is approved.
News Release: Guizhou Builds Skilled Workforce in Partnership With ADB
2016
This year marked the 30th anniversary of PRC-ADB partnership.
A new Country Partnership Strategy for 2016-2020 is approved, deepening various aspects of the ADB-PRC partnership, including the lender-borrower relationship for the public and private sectors, knowledge partnership, and collaboration in promoting regional and South-South cooperation.
News Release: ADB to Deepen Partnership With PRC Under New 5-Year Strategy
