MANILA, Nov 4: China will receive $4.5 billion in loans from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the next three years largely to develop poorer inland regions, the Philippines-based lender said Tuesday.

Loans worth $1.5 billion annually will support pro-poor economic growth by giving the poor greater access to prosperity, an ADB statement said.

The 2004-2006 lending program marks a sharp increase from the average of about one billion dollars in loans extended yearly to Beijing between 1998 and 2002, the ADB said.—AFP