Poland's development aid reaches China

Poland spent over zł.1 billion on development aid for poor countries in 2007, of which China was the largest recipient with as much as zł.188 million, according to a report entitled Poland Development Aid 2007released by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

"A trade agreement with China had been accounted as aid for purely statistical reasons. There was no political intention here," Marek Ziółkowski, director at the Development Cooperation Department at the Foreign Ministry said during a press conference.

Poland's aid has risen 9 percent from 2006, where Warsaw spent zł.992 million in development aid. Among those that Poland helped are Nicaragua, which received zł.85 million.

According to the report, as much as zł.549 million went toward contribution to the EU development aid budget, while Belarus was the largest recipient of project aid receiving zł.24.4 million of which zł.16 million was used to fund a television station Belsat TV.

The projects supported by Poland include humanitarian aid, which was sent to Sudan, Afghanistan, Peru and others, while Maldova was key recipient of food aid totaling zł.1 million.

In Africa, the priority for Poland is building wells, healthcare and education, however, only zł12 million in aid reached the continent. (AO)

Source: Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland Development Aid Report 2007 (Polska współpraca na rzecz rozwoju)