OREANDA-NEWS. April 04, 2012. CDB has lent nearly two trillion RMB to develop China's social infrastructure, noted CDB Chairman CHEN Yuan at a conference hosted by the bank in Beijing. The meeting, which focused on how development finance can improve lives and enrich societies, brought together policy-makers and social and business stakeholders to share perspectives and discuss best practices in promoting social development, reported the press-centre of CDB.

Mr. Chen emphasized the bank's increased support for education, employment, housing, healthcare, utilities, and rural development projects; he also noted that CDB has become the industry leader in public housing and student loan programs, making the bank an important player in the greater national drive for social development.

High-level government officials representing a wide range of public sectors attended the conference and spoke about the critical role of development finance institutions.

Minister of Water Resources CHEN Lei noted that CDB's long-term financing and support for water infrastructure has helped accelerate development and reform in this critical resource sector.
Deputy Housing Minister QI Ji spoke about CDB's support for China's public housing endeavor. As of the end of 2011, CDB had a RMB 213.6 billion loan exposure to public and affordable housing projects, accounting for over 60% of financial sector involvement.

Assistant Minister of Education LIN Huiqing highlighted CDB's role in improving education and equal opportunity in China. The bank funds over 80% of student loans nationwide, offering millions of underprivileged students the chance to get a college education.

Vice Governor Yang Daoxi of Guangxi spoke about how CDB's support has been instrumental in improving Guangxi's social infrastructure and has fostered a viable local market for financing, making an important contribution to the region's greater common good.

Mr. Chen also reiterated the bank’s commitment to supporting social initiatives in 2012. The bank is expected to lend RMB 100 billion to public housing projects, RMB 8.5 billion to student loans (benefiting 1.7 million disadvantaged students), over 50 billion RMB to water infrastructure improvements in the coming year, and expects the outstanding balance of SME loans to exceed RMB 130 billion, with growth in incremental and total outstanding balances. CDB will also increase its support for poverty alleviation and rural development as it pursues its goal of shaping a robust, balanced, and inclusive Chinese economy.

Also attending the conference were CDB Supervisory Chairman YAO Zhongmin; CDB Vice Presidents LI Jiping and WANG Yongsheng; CDB Executive Committee member ZHAO Jianping; as well as officials from PBOC and CBRC, the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, State Forestry Bureau, State Council’s poverty alleviation authority, the Youth League, Central Huijin Investment Ltd., China Association of SMEs, the National Student Loan Center; and municipal officials from Huangshi, Hubei Province, and Miluo, Hunan Province.