The Fourth World Philanthropy Forum Successfully Convenes in Shenzhen, China

SHENZHEN, China, Sep 5, 2019—The Fourth World Philanthropy Forum (WPF) jointly hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), Tsinghua University (THU), the University of Hong Kong (HKU), the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and co-hosted by Shenzhen Municipal People's Government was successfully held in Shenzhen. Ms. Li Xiaolin, President of the CPAFFC, Co-Chair of WPF presided over the launching speech session of the opening ceremony. Ms. Li Bin, Vice-Chairperson of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference delivered a keynote speech titled "Write a New Chapter For the World Philanthropy Cause". Mr. Péter Medgyessy, Former Prime Minister of Hungary and Mr. Wang Aiwen, Vice Minister of Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People's Republic of China also addressed at the ceremony. Professor Au, Terry Kit-fong, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of HKU attended the Forum and gave a speech while Professor Zhang Xiang, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKU, Co-Chair of WPF congratulated on the successful opening of the Forum via a video speech. Mr. Péter Medgyessy made a keynote speech with the title of "Take Advantage of Financial Power to Promote a Better Society—Hungarian Model of Economic Recovery".

The guest speech and thematic speech sessions, chaired by Li Xikui, Secretary-General of CPAFFC, and Chairman of China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development (CFFPD), discussed topics such as "Construct a More Prosperous Greater Bay Area and a Better World with the Power and Spirit of Philanthropy", "Philanthropy for Better Cities: The Hong Kong Jockey Club Prospective" and "Philanthropy for Every Child". Speakers attending the sessions included Mr. Tan Tieniu, Deputy Director of Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Ms. Chen Xu, Co-Chair of WPF, Professor Tuan Rocky S., Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK and Co-Chair of WPF, Mr. Wang Aiwen, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Civil Affairs, Dr. Chow Wing-kin, Anthony, Chairman of the Hong Kong Jockey Club (HKJC), and Mr. Gary Stahl, Director of Division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships of UNICEF.

On the theme of "Philanthropy in the Bay Area for Better Life", the two-day forum will focus on the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA), and discuss about philanthropic issues in talent exchange, youth innovation, health, philanthropy and sports, as well as the "Belt and Road Initiative". More than 300 people from 22 countries and regions in Asia, Europe, America and Oceania, including governments, enterprises, philanthropic organizations, higher education institutions and relevant United Nations agencies were invited to this occasion to engage in two speeches by the Guests of Honor, ten keynote speeches, six thematic sessions, three high-level roundtable forums, a closed-door roundtable forum and seven thematic reports.

The Forum will release five joint initiatives, namely the Regional and Local Governments Philanthropy Promotion Cooperation Plan, Philanthropy and Wealth Inheritance Plan, Philanthropy for Future Competition Plan, Social Services Leading Talents Training, and Foundation's International Friendly Cooperation, and announce the initiation of programs such as the Philanthropy and Wealth Inheritance Plan and Philanthropy for Future Competition Plan as well as old ones such as Social Service Leading Talents Training Plan as well as Cultivating Philanthropic Talent Program launched last year. These initiatives will further contribute to the integration of the world's philanthropic community by providing useful reference for the development of global philanthropic activities and building a multi-level and all-round platform for the training of philanthropic talent and international cooperation.

Thanks to the joint efforts of co-organizers, individuals and institutional participants, the WPF has become a grand event for the global philanthropy community. This year, the forum has invited the Former Prime Minister of Hungary Mr. Péter Medgyessy, Former Prime Minister of Italy Mr. Massimo D'Alema, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand and Chairman of the Sino-Thai Friendship Association Mr. Korn Dabbaransi as advisors, and joined by UNICEF, the Organization of United Regions / Global Forum of Regional Governments and Associations of Regions (ORU-Fogar), Silk Road Cities Alliance, Heydar Aliyev Foundation, Guangdong Guoqiang Public Welfare Foundation as its new partners. The forum has also gained support from institutions such as Tsinghua University Education Foundation, TCL Charity Foundation, and China Charities Aid Foundation for Children. The forum is committed to promoting regional cooperation through consensus building, cross-discipline collaboration and a tight network of actions, bringing new connotation to the common interests, common pursuit and common values of mankind. Through concerted cooperation and joint actions, the forum will continue to provide assistance in building a community with shared future for mankind, promote communication and mutual understanding among the people, and join hands to create a future of better living.