World Bank Group Timeline
China becomes largest IDA borrower
India had long been the most sizable IDA borrower, but during fiscal year 1991 more funds were approved for China than for any other country. China was the beneficiary of $978 million in IDA credits during FY1991 while the total approved to India amounting to $937 million. IDA's commitments to China rose from $590 million in FY1990, an increase of $388 million, or 66%. This increase was part of a dramatic rise in total Bank Group commitments to China, as it nearly tripled the amount of total loans received from both the IBRD and IDA combined, rising from $590 million in FY1991 to $1.58 billion in FY1991. The Bank Group's 1991 Annual Report states that China's economy has performed well, producing trade surpluses and stable levels of debt. The report also describes how the number of people living in absolute poverty in China has dropped from 196 million in 1981 to an estimated 67 million in 1989.
Resource Gallery
At the Front Line : Reflections on the Bank’s Work with China over Forty Years (1980-2020)
Document date: January 18, 2022
This volume contains written contributions from some of the key actors involved on both the Chinese and the World Bank sides in the past four decades of partnership.
Interview with Caio Koch-Weser
Interview date: Dec. 21, 1992
Koch-Weser describes his work with China beginning on page 3 of the transcript.
IDA Statement Of Credits and Grants - Historical Data
Production date: 1960-Present
This dataset contains historical snapshots of the IDA Statement of Credits and Grants including the latest available snapshot.
Memo from David Pearce to files
April 4, 1988
The memo contains a summary of a meeting between President Conable and Vice Premier of the People's Republic of China, Yao Yilin (30072600).
World Bank Annual Report 1991
Document date: Sept. 30, 1991
The report describes the current state of China's and India's economy on pages 119-120 and provides a list of IDA and IBRD projects for FY1991 on page 161.
