World Food Programme to stop China aid as Beijing makes own donations

BEIJING, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The U.N. World Food Programme will halt donations to China by the end of next year as the world's seventh-largest economy boosts its own assistance abroad, WFP chief James Morris said on Tuesday.

China's graduation from WFP food aid after 25 years is a milestone in its development and reforms, including a decade or so of soaring economic growth which has lifted 300 million Chinese out of poverty.

"At the end of 2005, we will no longer be an active, operating programme in China. China will no longer need us," Morris said.

"When I look at the serious humanitarian needs around the world, there are places that need us much more than China does."

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