China

Canada's Commitment
Results
Country Profile

Canada's Commitment

China is of strategic importance to Canada since the country's economic transformation is enabling it to assume an increasingly significant role in global affairs. However, the changes bring with them serious social and environmental challenges in relation to human rights, rule of law, and environmental sustainability.

Since it is in Canada's interest-and a tangible expression of Canadian values-to promote reforms in these important areas, CIDA funds expertise and training to address these challenges. This is achieved through Canadian organizations which provide the necessary expertise and training to the Chinese. Funding does not go to the Chinese government.

The two objectives of CIDA's current Country Development Programming Framework for China (2005-2010) are:

1. to promote human rights, democratic development, and good governance by focusing on the rule of law and the implementation of international human rights conventions and environmental agreements.

This approach takes into account legal, judicial, governmental, and legislative institutions, as well as standards and requirements of international instruments.

2. to promote environmental sustainability in China through support for Chinese efforts to manage environmental issues in the western regions of China by enhancing the capacity of the country's land resource management systems.

Gender equality is integrated into all programs and activities. In addition, the program gives special consideration to emerging issues, such as the threat of new infectious diseases, including SARS and avian flu.

Since the signing of the General Agreement between Canada and China on Development Cooperation in 1983, CIDA's China Program has evolved from having an early focus on technology transfer and broadly-based training programs to being a targeted program of specialized cooperation.

Canada provides official development assistance (ODA) for development cooperation with China through CIDA bilateral and partnership programs directly supporting Canadian institutions, firms and non-governmental organizations working with Chinese partners. Canada also contributes to multilateral institutions working in China, such as the Global Environment Facility and the World Health Organization.

---

Results

Canada was one of the first international donors to work with China on human rights issues in the 1990s. In supporting judicial system reforms for more than a decade, Canada has helped China:

• reform trial procedures
• train judges
• create new measures to prevent corruption
• strengthen due process
• introduce community corrections and
• develop a legal aid system for disadvantaged groups

CIDA has also supported:

• Chinese efforts to protect women's rights
• the establishment of China's first human rights research centre
• the development of a system of public consultation for legislation and
• the integration of international environmental and human rights standards into domestic legislation and practices

Key achievements include:

• the creation of special courts to enhance women's access to legal services and justice
• procedures to outlaw the use of evidence obtained through torture and
• measures to reduce the use of the death penalty

More than 275,000 prosecutors, judges, and criminal lawyers have received training in accordance with Canadian and international legal and human rights standards.

Canadian assistance, through the China-Canada Cooperation Project in Cleaner Production, was instrumental in the passage of a national law to promote cleaner production in 2002. Canada's support for the China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development contributed to the formulation of China's first environmental assessment law. Through agricultural programming, CIDA has made a difference in promoting improved agricultural practices to reduce desertification.

---

Country Profile

China has the world's largest population and the third-largest land mass. Its far-reaching reforms, particularly through the introduction of market systems and increased economic openness, have contributed over the last two decades to an unparalleled reduction in poverty.

However, there are ongoing challenges related to the rule of law and the protection of human rights-especially for migrant workers, women, and ethnic minorities-owing to the unfinished nature of China's governance reforms.

In addition, China is threatened by serious problems with water and air pollution, acid rain, internationally significant greenhouse gas emissions produced by burning coal, as well as desertification, deforestation, and the loss of agricultural land to soil erosion. These problems also pose a significant threat to the global environment.

Nevertheless, China has the unequalled potential to be a catalyst for development in Asia and contribute to the global achievement of the Millennium Development Goals.

Through its economic reforms and increased participation in international organizations, China has demonstrated that it is willing to take on the responsibilities associated with its emergence onto the world stage.

And now, Canada is working with China-especially in the areas of human rights and environmental protection-to implement the undertakings that are required by international agreements.