Development Partner: People's Republic of China
Development / Implementation Agency
The People's Republic of China (PRC) provides foreign assistance outside the OECD's Official Development Assistance (ODA) framework.
The PRC's foreign assistance strategy “China's International Development Cooperation in the New Era” is mainly managed by the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), established in 2018 from the Department of Foreign Aid of the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) of the People's Republic of China, as a direct agency of the State Council (China's supreme executive and administrative body), alongside the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), which is responsible for international economic cooperation.
CIDCA formulates strategic policies for foreign aid, coordinates major programs, signs agreements with recipient nations, and oversees project evaluations. Assistance frequently targets social development, poverty alleviation, agriculture, public health, and environmental initiatives. China's development initiatives are strongly influenced by its concept of a “global community of a shared future” and its commitment to aligning its efforts with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and South-South cooperation. China tailors its programs to the immediate needs of developing partner countries.
China's foreign assistance strategy targets the following core initiatives:
a) Belt and Road Initiative - the main geographic and economic vehicle for implementing long-term infrastructure financing, connecting transport, energy, and digital corridors.
b) Global Development Initiative (GDI) - launched to align China's development financing with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, serving as an alternative to Western aid models.
c) South-South Cooperation - officially framed as mutual assistance between developing nations rather than a donor-recipient dynamic, emphasizing non-interference in internal affairs.
Contact Details
Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the Republic of Moldova
Chișinău, 124 M. Dosoftei St.
Tel: +373 (22) 21 07 12
China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA)
China, Beijing, Dongcheng District, Dong’anmen 82
Postal Code: 100006
Tel: +86-10-86601898
Legal Framework for Cooperation
There are also bilateral agreements across various sectors.
Strategic Programming Documents
There is no specific PRC assistance strategy for the Republic of Moldova.
The general framework is set out in the foreign aid and development strategy “China's International Development Cooperation in the New Era” approved in January 2021. It emphasizes South-South cooperation, poverty reduction, and infrastructure development, aiming to build a "Global Community of a Shared Future."
Priority Sectors / Areas of Cooperation
Key aspects of the strategy:
Core Principles: the principle of "pursuing the greater good and shared interests," focusing on respect, equality, non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, and improving local livelihoods.
Main Areas of Interest: Priority is given to developing countries under the "Belt and Road" initiative, with a focus on poverty reduction, agriculture, healthcare, and infrastructure connectivity.
Global Alignment: It explicitly aims to align Chinese investments with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Types of Funds / Financial Instruments and Modalities of Assistance
China implements its strategy through a rigid tier of financial instruments managed by the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) and state-owned banks:
a) Grants and zero-interest loans - allocated in the form of social assistance, medical teams, public facilities, and humanitarian aid.
b) Concessional loans - market-rate loans issued by the Export-Import Bank of China, where the lower interest rate granted to the recipient country is actively subsidized by China's national foreign aid budget.
c) Subsidies.
Programming, Approval, and Project Implementation Procedures
Foreign assistance projects are programmed, approved, and implemented through a coordinated framework led by CIDCA, alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). CIDCA handles high-level design, formulating overall foreign aid strategies, medium and long-term policies, and country-specific guidelines. Recipient country governments coordinate project proposals with Chinese embassies and consulates to communicate assistance needs and conduct initial policy reviews. Projects are vetted and entered into mechanisms such as the Global Development Project Pool managed through CIDCA. CIDCA collaborates with the MFA, MOFCOM, and other departments through joint consultation and coordination mechanisms for project proposal approval. Proposed projects undergo economic, technical, and environmental feasibility studies, as well as budget reviews. Final project plans and funding allocations receive approval from central government authorities before implementation begins. While CIDCA oversees assistance policy, coordination, and agreements, actual implementation is carried out by MOFCOM-subordinate agencies, specialized line ministries, or approved Chinese enterprises. Chinese embassies and consulates handle on-site supervision, monitoring, and quality control in the host country. Completed projects are subject to the foreign aid project evaluation system to assess performance, fund management, and overall effectiveness.
