IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Charity forum in Beijing

The first session of the China Charity Forum was held in Beijing last week, with participants coming from government departments, international organizations and businesses. Participants discussed global trends in charity development and the charity situation in China. Chen Changzhi, the 12th vice-chairman of the National People's Congress, said poverty alleviation will top the government's agenda in the coming years. High-ranking participants include Civil Affairs Minister Chen Liguo (also president of the China Charity Alliance); Wang Jianlin, chairman of Dalian Wanda Group Co Ltd and Christophe Bahuet, country director of the United Nations Development Program in China.

Evening gala raises $1.8m