Donors from 160 countries including China agreed on Thursday to form a world-wide partnership to ensure tens of billions of dollars in foreign aid goes to help the neediest. Their declaration came at the end of the world's premier aid forum, at which Western countries tried to bring emerging donors like China - which does not co-ordinate with other major aid-givers - into the international fold.
But private groups expressed regret that the deal was not binding. The agreement "will only live up to its historic potential if nations follow through on their promises", said BetterAid, a coalition of private aid organisations. It said an initially reluctant China had supported the declaration on condition it was voluntary. "It's a big step forward that China is at the table but it's a pity that they aren't yet ready to promise to act on what they say," said Antonio Tujan, chair of BetterAid and the "sherpa" representing NGOs at negotiations.
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