China has issued a white paper presenting an overall picture of its foreign aid activities over the past few decades. More than 256 billion yuan in aid had been given by China to other countries by the end of 2009. Yang Yan tells us more about China's distribution and management of foreign aid.

By the end of 2009, China had given aid to 161 countries and more than 30 international and regional organizations.

This accounts for over 256 billion yuan, or nearly 40 billion US dollars. More than 106 billion yuan was given in grants, almost 80 billion yuan in interest-free loans and over 73 billion yuan in concessional loans.

Recipients were mainly developing countries, with Asia and Africa accounting for 80 percent of the total. Funds were mainly directed to the agricultural sector, infrastructure, public facilities, education and health care.

China sent over 21,000 medical workers to other countries up to 2009, treating 260 million patients.

China also provided free medical equipment and medicines to recipient countries, as well as fixed or mobile medical clinics.

Chinese medical teams have not only treated foreign patients, but also passed on valuable skills to medical workers abroad to help them improve their services.

The white paper also outlined China's goal to further improve its foreign aid and strengthen cooperation in this field within the international community.

The country's foreign aid began in 1950, when it provided material assistance to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Vietnam.