Size and variety may also help the economic stimulus programmes of China, India and Brazil.

ECONOMIST: BRICs, emerging markets and the world economy

It reflects the long-run success of China, the impact of social programmes in Latin America and recent economic growth in Africa.

ECONOMIST: Global poverty

The China Scholarship Council offers the Chinese Government Scholarship programmes and some special scholarship programmes.

UNESCO: ����

He has anchored BBC News 24 since 1997 and reported for news and documentary programmes across Europe, Russia, China and North and South America.

BBC: Gavin Esler

The authors also argue that some countries like China and India, which have their own space programmes, could perhaps contribute funds to help other countries rather than being recipients, thereby increasing the financial support available.

BBC: Malaria funding 'falling short'

What is new is that these programmes are expanding rapidly (in the case of China and Russia, after a steep fall).

ECONOMIST: Big developing countries are shaking up the world of aid