The World Bank will provide loans for China's future infrastructure construction to support its urbanization, said its Vice President Katherine Sierra in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Wednesday.

 

Speaking at the ongoing 2005 Asia Pacific Cities Summit, Sierra said China has already done a good job and set other developing countries an example in city infrastructure construction.

 

She said China's urbanization features high economic growth and poverty alleviation.

 

Currently, about 80 percent of the country's economic growth is in its cities and townships and it is heading toward being an increasingly urbanized society.

 

She said the World Bank will assist China in ensuring power supply, communications, traffic and environmental management, as well as in improving investment environments, technological innovation and research.

 

Sierra added that the bank's focus will shift to cities in western areas like Chongqing and the provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

 

She said the World Bank has already approved two loans worth US$380 million in total to improve the sewage disposal capacity and the water supply system in Chongqing.

 

(Xinhua News Agency October 13, 2005)