China to provide $560 mln free assistance to underdeveloped ASEAN countries in 2016

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (5th L) poses for a group photo with ASEAN members' leaders during the 18th ASEAN-China leaders' meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Nov 21, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

KUALA LUMPUR - China on Sunday pledged to provide free assistance worth 3.6 billion renminbi (around $560 million) to underdeveloped ASEAN member states in 2016.

China will also offer infrastructure loans totaling $10 billion to Southeast Asian countries, Liu Zhenmin, Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, said at a press briefing on the sidelines of the 27th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits.