Download or read book China written by and published by World Bank Publications. This book was released on 2005 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since opening to the outside world and embarking on an economic reform programme in 1978, China has had one of the highest rates of sustained economic growth and poverty reduction in the world. However, during the 1990s several challenges emerged in relation to levels of inequality and environmental degradation. This evaluative report on the relative effectiveness of World Bank assistance to China focuses on the period 1993-2002, although it includes some references to developments in earlier and more recent years also. Findings include that the World Bank has made important contributions to economic reform, poverty reduction, infrastructure development, and environmental protection, but has fallen short of its objectives in promoting fiscal and financial reforms to reduce inequality and risk.