World Bank to end China lending by 2031

The World Bank will phase out its lending to China by 2031, according to the organization’s new country partnership framework. Reaction pending.

World Bank’s China partnership timeline

Officials said the plan is laid out in a new country partnership framework that sets 2031 as the endpoint for new World Bank lending to China.

The decision adds pressure to a long-running debate inside and outside the institution about whether China, the world’s second-largest economy, should continue to receive development financing designed for poorer countries. Officials did not provide further details in the material cited.

The practical impact is likely to be gradual: a phaseout suggests a narrowing pipeline for new projects, while existing commitments may continue to disburse under agreed terms. For other borrowers, the move could eventually free up World Bank capacity, but the pace will depend on how quickly China’s active portfolio rolls off and how the institution reallocates resources.

Officials are expected to provide more detail after the framework’s release; the next 24–48 hours will be key for clarifying whether the 2031 endpoint applies to all sovereign lending or only to specific programs, starting from July 1, 2026.