Debts of 49 developing countries waived

China waived 374 debts of 49 developing countries in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and the South Pacific by the end of last year, an official with the Ministry of Commerce's foreign aid department has said.

The exact amount of the written off debts, however, is not known.

China began providing aid to other countries in 1950, one year after the founding of the People's Republic of China, the official said.