Berlin  - Germany plans to stop giving development aid to China, Economic Assistance Minister Dirk Niebel said in a newspaper interview on Friday.

"Battling poverty is more important than ever for Germany," he told the mass-circulation Bild. "That means we have to concentrate our resources effectively in the most needy areas. Economic giants like China and India do not meet this criteria."

Niebel did not say when the assistance would end.

The minister is a member of the pro-business Free Democrats (FDP), junior partner in Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservative coalition, which took office on Wednesday.

Niebel's remarks indicated he would fulfil a campaign pledge by the FDP to end the 70 million euros (103 million dollars) Germany provides to China each year as development aid. (dpa)