Germany to end financial aid to China

Germany’s government said Monday it plans to stop financing development projects in China, and instead play an advisory role in areas such as environment protection, AP reported, citing the German newspaper Neue Onsabruecker Zeitung. Germany’s development minister Heidemari Wieczorek Zeul told the paper, "We want to encourage dialogue and consultation and the expansion of business partnerships. We will end classic financial cooperation." Last year, Germany spent US$97.7 million on development projects in China, but has made no pledges for this year or next. A spokesman for Wieczorek Zeul said environmental protection, renewable energy and energy efficiency were all possible areas for future advisory cooperation.