After China implemented the reform and opening-up policy from 65438 to 0978, in order to break the blockade of western countries and learn foreign experience and technology better, China began to accept international development assistance. From 65438 to 0979, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) approved the first aid plan for China, and since then, China began to cooperate with the United Nations operational system for development. Since then, China has gradually cooperated with the United Nations Food Programme, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund and the United Nations Population Fund. 198 1 year, China and Australia signed the first bilateral development cooperation agreement, and Australia began to provide development assistance to China. Since then, China has successively signed general agreements or protocols on bilateral development cooperation with Britain, Italy, Canada and other countries, and established aid and cooperation relations with the European Union and Japan under the mechanism of bilateral mixed committees or annual meetings. In addition, China has signed bilateral free aid framework agreements with the Netherlands, New Zealand and Norway, and has developed cooperative relations with Sweden, Luxembourg and other countries from time to time.