Voices of change

Editor's notes: Participants at the 2008 China Global Philanthropy Forum, which ended on November 2, exchanged their views on China's philanthropy development. During the event, China Business Weekly reporter Bao Wanxian noted some of their remarks.

"I think the spring of China's philanthropy is coming.

"After 30 years' of reform and opening up, China has found the right target, or theme of development - scientific outlook, which is to promote a balance of social development and economic growth. A scientific outlook is the base for the development of China's philanthropy in the coming future.

"I think sustainable development is the target of promoting philanthropy in China. Charity should concentrate on a continuous effort for a social welfare program, not simply donations.

"The world's rapid growth has generated more challenges at the same time. We should work in partnership in coping with climate change, environmental protection, food safety, and other regional problems. So everyone should care for poverty, disease, disaster, climate change, environmental protection, as well as the food safety."

- Long Yongtu, chairman of China Global Philanthropy Forum and Secretary-General of Boao Forum for Asia

"The May 12 Sichuan earthquake has already greatly promoted philanthropic activities in China, partly due to the huge public donations (around 70 billion yuan). But we should pay more attention to the remarkable charitable force that was inspired by the disaster. Today, philanthropy has become a kind of "fashion" in the country. Everybody holds new views about charity.

"For the new trend, we should consider adjusting the social system of doing charitable activities, in order to promote better public cooperation, more comprehensive philanthropic programs and a more professional team of volunteers. We will engage in establishing a platform for volunteers and workers in philanthropic organizations, providing better social welfare for them. That will help promote philanthropy on the way of becoming a profession.

"The grass-roots philanthropic organization is the next focus for us. Indeed, it will become a main inspiration for promoting social harmony and leading more people to participate in philanthropic activities."

- Wang Zhenyao, director of Department of Charity Coordination and Promotion, Ministry of Civil Affairs

"When we are considering 30 years of China's economic reform and opening, it is also the best time for thinking about the future of China's philanthropy. "We should build a forcible philanthropic brand, which can result in greater social influence.

"Trust plays a fundamental role in social philanthropic works. To achieve a higher standard of public trust, philanthropic organizations should promote an open, transparent organization of social resources better connecting source providers and source receivers.

"Furthermore, we should engage in spreading a philanthropic culture to the public, encouraging everybody to hold social responsibility and attend in the charitable activities."

- Jiang Yiman, Party secretary and vice chairwoman of Red Cross Society of China

"I am a martial arts (or Wushu) athlete and an actor. And recently, somebody called me a philanthropist. But today, I want to be a beggar, hoping everybody donates their efforts and warm hearts to the huge number of needy people all around the world.

"So I built up the "Jet Li One Foundation", in order to spread the theme of "One World, One Dream". We should work in partnership in coping with poverty, disaster, disease, climate change and other difficulties.

"When we share the natural resources today, we should consider what we can leave for the next generation. So if you donate as little as 0.01 yuan everyday, you can leave and deliver 0.01 yuan more for the future. "We should build up a global philanthropic platform, connecting the millions of NGOs and NPOs from different countries and share their advanced experiences and professional management."

- Jet Li, Red Cross ambassador and founder of the Jet Li One Foundation

"In my opinion, we should promote more general, abundant and much fairer social philanthropic activities all around the world, not focusing on an individual, single family, or single country.

"Philanthropy should play important role in coping with emerging events. So it is increasingly necessary to encourage international cooperation. Through the partnership of different philanthropic organizations, we can form a strategy for facing emerging events and greatly enhance the joint forces."

- Eric Laroche, assistant director-general of the World Health Organization

"The development of philanthropy is a long-term course, especially for China, a country with 1.3 billion people.

"But for sure, the media should play an important role in promoting the development of philanthropic activities. First of all, the media should help to spread the word about charitable actions to the public. Furthermore, as China promotes philanthropy, the media should help shape the standard of social charitable actions in the country.

"Donating hearts but not money is also philanthropy."

- Liu Changle, chairman and CEO of Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Limited

"After several years of development, we have many resources that could be used for helping needy people and coping with social problems. So, in the coming years, the focus of philanthropy is how to make better use of these resources.

"Global philanthropic service needs more passion and enthusiasm from the public, needs creative actions, and needs more cooperation among different countries. "We should engage in building up a network for philanthropic services, better combining talents, donators, and social resources.

"That is the power of global philanthropy. Furthermore, it is the future of global philanthropy."

- Maximilian Martin, global head of UBS AG's Philanthropy Services

"The difference between a good company and a great company is that a good company can provide good products and services to the public. But a great company not only engages in providing good products and services, but also plays a role in strong social activities and contributes to sustainable development. That is the essence of corporate social responsibility.

"For a company, the development of business should be in line with the growth of the society. We should encourage every employee to make more contributions."

- Serge Dumont, senior vice president of Omnicom Group Inc and President of Omnicom Asia Pacific

(China Daily 11/10/2008 page8)