3 hrs ago
China Boosts Development Funding, but Influence Still Lags
A new study says China is giving much more money to international development groups than it did 15 years ago.
It has increased its contributions to development banks and some United Nations bodies.
China has also pledged money to a fund that helps poorer countries.
But the study says China still has less voting power and fewer senior jobs in these institutions than its economic size might suggest.
China’s share of the World Bank is about 6%, while the United States has about 16% and veto power.
China’s support varies by program: it increased climate finance but cut its support for Gavi.
China is also borrowing less from development banks.
The World Bank says it will stop lending to China after 2031.
China has increased funding for multilateral development institutions tenfold since 2010, while its voting power and senior representation remain below its economic weight.
Its funding for development banks reached $3 billion in 2024, and support for UN development-related bodies rose 47%, according to the study.
China pledged $1.5 billion to the World Bank’s International Development Association and became its fifth-largest donor.
China’s multilateral climate finance rose to $5.25 billion in 2025, while support for Gavi fell 32%.
China’s development-bank borrowing declined to $4.7 billion in 2024 from $8 billion in 2021; the World Bank plans to end lending to China after 2031.
- Who
- China and multilateral development institutions, as assessed in a study by the Center for Global Development.
- What
- China has sharply increased funding for development institutions, but its voting power and presence in those bodies still lag its economic weight.
- Where
- The study concerns international institutions including the World Bank, IMF, United Nations bodies, and Gavi.
- When
- The study was released on Thursday, October 8; it covers funding trends including figures for 2024 and 2025.
- Why
- China has sought a larger role at the World Bank and IMF, while the study examines how its funding and representation compare with its economic size.
China’s case for greater influence
Concerns about changing institutional power
Representation at the World Bank and IMF
China’s case for greater influence
China has argued for a larger role at the World Bank and IMF to better reflect its economic size and contributions; its World Bank share is around 6%.
Concerns about changing institutional power
US and other Western officials have resisted shareholder changes, saying there is no consensus on realignment and that China lacks transparency.
Whether China is filling funding gaps
China’s case for greater influence
China has sharply increased funding for development institutions and made large contributions to some bodies, including the World Health Organization.
Concerns about changing institutional power
The study’s co-author said China is not filling all the gaps left by the United States and other Western powers, and that its contributions are selective.
Key facts
- Development institution funding
- China’s funding has increased tenfold since 2010.
- Development bank funding
- Reached $3 billion in 2024.
- UN development-related funding
- Rose 47%; 11% of China’s contributions to UN entities were voluntary.
- World Bank share
- China holds around 6%; the United States holds around 16% and retains veto power.
- International Development Association
- China pledged $1.5 billion and is now its fifth-largest donor.
- Climate finance and Gavi
- China’s multilateral climate finance reached $5.25 billion in 2025; its support for Gavi fell 32%.
- Development-bank borrowing
- China’s borrowing fell from $8 billion in 2021 to $4.7 billion in 2024.
- World Bank lending to China
- The Bank announced it will stop all lending to China after 2031.
Quotes
Ian Mitchell
Co-author of the Center for Global Development report
“It hasn’t supported much of the UN voluntarily. It hasn’t supported the verticals virtually at all, and it’s continued its bilateral efforts, but at a smaller scale”
theprint.in
“This is a big step up from 15 years ago, but it’s still a tiny share of China’s economy”
theprint.in
Sources
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