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DATE=6/24/99
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-251034
TITLE=CHINA REACT / WORLD BANK (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=STEPHANIE HO
DATELINE=BEIJING
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:  
INTRO:  CHINA IS BLASTING THE UNITED STATES FOR OPPOSING A WORLD 
BANK LOAN TO ALLEVIATE POVERTY IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE 
COUNTRY.  THE 160-MILLION DOLLAR LOAN COMES UP FOR A VOTE AT 
WORLD BANK HEADQUARTERS IN WASHINGTON THURSDAY.   V-O-A'S 
STEPHANIE HO REPORTS .
TEXT:  WORLD BANK FUNDING FOR THE CHINA WESTERN POVERTY REDUCTION
PROJECT  WAS DUE TO BE DECIDED TUESDAY.  BUT IT WAS DELAYED FOR 
TWO DAYS SO  BANK PRESIDENT JAMES WOLFENSOHN COULD BE IN  
WASHINGTON TO PRESIDE OVER  THE CONTROVERSIAL VOTE. 
INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS AND TIBET ORGANIZATIONS SAY THE
PROJECT'S PLANS TO RESETTLE 58-THOUSAND CHINESE FARMERS FROM POOR
AREAS WILL WIPE OUT THE CULTURE OF LOCAL ETHNIC TIBETANS.
AT A REGULAR BRIEFING IN BEIJING THURSDAY, CHINESE FOREIGN 
MINISTRY SPOKESWOMAN ZHANG QIYUE SHARPLY CRITICIZED STATEMENTS BY
U-S TREASURY SECRETARY-NOMINEE LAWRENCE SUMMERS, WHO SAID 
WASHINGTON WILL NOT SUPPORT THE PROJECT.
MS. ZHANG, SPEAKING THROUGH AN INTERPRETER, SAID THE PROJECT'S 
AIM IS TO IMPROVE LIVING STANDARDS FOR PEOPLE OF ALL ETHNIC 
GROUPS LIVING IN THE AREA.
                  // ZHANG INTERPRETER ACT // 
 WE HOPE THE U-S WILL CHANGE ITS POSITION AND STOP INTERFERING IN
CHINA'S INTERNAL MATTERS BY MEANS OF THE TIBETAN QUESTION. 
                          // END ACT //
MR. SUMMERS HAS SAID WASHINGTON OPPOSES THE PROJECT BECAUSE OF  
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES AND UNSPECIFIED CONCERNS IN THE RESETTLEMENT
AREAS.
WORLD BANK OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE EFFECTS OF THE RESETTLEMENT 
HAVE  BEEN VASTLY EXAGGERATED BY PRO-TIBET GROUPS.  THEY ARGUE 
THAT THE  PROJECT WILL AID SOME OF THE POOREST PEOPLE IN CHINA, 
WHICH THEY SAY  IS EXACTLY WHAT THE BANK'S POVERTY-ALLEVIATION 
PROGRAMS ARE INTENDED TO DO. 
                // REST OPT // CUT AFTER VOTE //
DESPITE OPPOSITION FROM THE UNITED STATES, WORLD BANK OFFICIALS 
ARE QUOTED BY WESTERN MEDIA AS SAYING THEY EXPECT THE LOAN TO BE 
APPROVED.  (SIGNED)
NEB/HO/JO
24-Jun-99 5:28 AM EDT (0928 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.