The Agricultural Bank of China (ABC) said Tuesday it made backed rural development with loans worth some 1.82 trillion yuan, or nearly a fifth of its lending between 2001-05.

Most of the loans were issued for agricultural projects, rural infrastructure and township enterprises, according to a statement from ABC, which is one of China's big four state banks. The statement said more than half of the 581 leading agro-enterprises nationwide received loans.

The bank's outstanding agro-related loans reached 1.096 trillion yuan by the end of last year, 271.1 billion yuan more than five years ago.

Source: Xinhua