GUIYANG, April 11 (Xinhua) -- Southwest China's Guizhou Province has received joint finance from the World Bank and Agence Francaise de Developpement (AFD) for an elderly care program, the provincial finance department said Thursday.

According to Guizhou Provincial Finance Bureau, the province received a loan of 350 million U.S. dollars from the World Bank, with another 100 million euros from the AFD in late March.

The program aims to make basic elderly care reachable and improve its quality and effciency, with more products and services for the elderly. Nursing staff and family members who take care of the elderly will also receive training, salary subsidies and financial support under the program.

The loan is important for cooperation between China and the World Bank on supporting elderly care, and will be significant for elderly care sector reform and strengthening its institutional systems and capacities in China, said Martin Raiser, World Bank country director for China.