Berlin - Germany's economic assistance ministry is ending all
financial aid to China, a spokesman said Monday, following complaints
that China is rich enough to fund its own projects.

Ministerial spokesman Stephan Bethe said Berlin would no longer
provide financial backing for development projects but would continue
to act in an advisory capacity.

Last year the ministry provided funds worth 67.5 million euros
(97.8 million dollars) to China, but has made no commitments for this
year or next, the spokesman said.

The opposition Free Democrats welcomed the move, saying China had a
very strong economy and did not need financial aid or low-interest
credits.

Economic Assistance Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul suspended
development aid talks with China, following the outbreak of
anti-Chinese protests in Tibet in May.

"In the future we will rely on a strategic partnership with China
encompassing the entire federal government in order to promote reforms
in justice, society and climate protection," she told the newspaper
Neue Osnabruecker Zeitung. (dpa)