Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation representatives meet Dr. Chen Hongtian--a handshake between two Sino-US philanthropic NGOs

2017.11.03

On Nov. 1, 2017, Dr. Chen Hongtian, CPPCC member, Hong Kong Justice of the Peace & Cheung Kei Chairman met Robert Rosen, the director of Philanthropic Partnerships of Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Geng Ming, the Foundation's chief representative in China in the Harmony Building. Both partiesexchanged their ideas about the status quo and concept of Sino-US philanthropic services, discussed how to promote this career in a strategic, systematic way, so as to solve social problems and help more people.

Chairman Dr. Chen shakes hand with Director Rosen

During the discussion, Chairman Dr. Chen mentioned that Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has a great reputation across the world, and he's so pleased to talk with Director Rosen who has come a long way from the U.S. As the chairman of Harmony Club, he introduced Director Rosen the club members and guests, who are CPPCC members long dedicated to philanthropic activities, including Ms. Zou Jianmin, deputy chairman of the club; Ms. You Zhonghui, outstanding entrepreneurs & president of Shenzhen Fortune High Investment Group; Mr. Zhou Taolin, president of Shenzhen Baitar Investment Holding Co.,Ltd.; Ms. Fang Tao, chief executive officer of Shenzhen Charity Federation; and Mr. Wang Zhenyao, president of China Global Philanthropy Institute.

Chairman Dr. Chen expressed his appreciation of the efforts and contributions from the Foundation for philanthropic services. He introduced the engagement of Harmony Philanthropic Foundation and Harmony members in China's philanthropic activities. He said, “Harmony Philanthropic Foundation was initiated by Harmony Club in Nov. 2013. The donation is largely from over 100 entrepreneurs of the club and appropriated to alleviation and assistance to the weak and disabled, education support and other non-profit programs beneficial to social philanthropic activities. Since its establishment, Harmony Philanthropic Foundation has been, together with Harmony's famous entrepreneurs, actively engaged in social philanthropic activities including alleviation and assistance to the weak and disabled and education support. Harmony members have donated over 10 billion yuan over years, with annual donation exceeding 500 million yuan. In 2016 alone, the donation from Harmony members and Harmony-controlled enterprises added up to over 1.5 billion yuan.” Chairman Chen also shared his ideas and insights about how to promote entrepreneurs' involvement in philanthropy. He said, “As China's economy is in high-speed development, many entrepreneurs are more concerned with creating wealth and building up their own companies. A greater role we will play is to encourage them to establish the practice and idea of doing charity and non-profit activities. In this stage, doing a good business is more important than making donations. Before achieving a successful career, entrepreneurs shouldn't give away a generous amount of operational fund. That should happen only when they can guarantee the sound development of their own company. As entrepreneurs, they must decide what to do and what not. Before they repay the society, their top priority is doing a good business. After their business has grown stronger, they would be willing to make more philanthropic donations. That's a sure thing. As for borrowing-based donation, I don't think I agree with that. That's my personal understanding. Ms. Zhai Meiqing, among our other members, is a very successful philanthropist. Recently she won the international philanthropic award -- Carnegie　Corporation　of　New　York. In future, I believe we’ll see more entrepreneurs who dedicate themselves to philanthropy.”

In discussion

Director Rosen expressed his thanks to Chairman Chen's warm reception, and introduced the Foundation's background and achievements in global philanthropic activities. The Foundation was established in 2000, when the Gateses were figuring out how to achieve greatest effect of philanthropy while deciding to give back to the community. In addition to dealing with personal donations, they're more concerned about how to provide philanthropic services and solve social problems in a strategic, systematic way. In 2006, the then world's richest man Mr. Buffett promised to donate 90% (about 31 billion USD) of his properties to the Foundation. The Foundation, since establishing its relation with Mr. Buffett, begins to undertake a greater scope oftasks and gain more resources, meaning that it could make more contributions on a non-profit basis. To help UHNW (ultra high net worth) groups make donations more actively and invite more people to donate their wealth to the society, the Gateses and Buffett launched together the “Donation Oath” program.

Director Rosen explained that the “Donation Oath” is a public commitment: the signatories promise to donate over half of their properties to philanthropic program in or after their remaining years. With the aim of encouraging more donations, this program is designed to discuss and seek for the most effective solution to the most urgent problem in the society. The Foundation is tasked with providing services for these philanthropists. So far,the “Donation Oath” has been underway for 7 years, and 170 philanthropists from 21 countries and regions worldwide have joined the program, including Ms. You Zhonghui, who recommended us to this discussion, also the first one in Shenzhen to join this program.

Group photo

In the discussion, Chairman Dr. Chen, Director Rosen, President Wang Zhenyao and chief executive officer Fang Tao exchanged their ideas about the taxation policy for donations from U.S. entrepreneurs and other issues. Fang Tao explained Shenzhen's practices after Chinese philanthropic law was released. The philanthropic law regulates the various forms contained in philanthropic activities, including poverty alleviation, disaster relief, education promotion, technology, ecological environment, culture and sports. The country encourages organizations and individuals to carry out philanthropic activities in accordance with the law. Organizations like Shenzhen Charity Federation issue to donors the donation notes uniformly designed by the financial sector, and donors are legally entitled to the pre-tax deduction.

As the discussion was coming to an end, both parties expressed their willing to facilitate the visit of Mr. Bill Gates to Harmony Club and agreed that it would be a historic meeting. It's believed that the cooperation between club philanthropists and the Foundation would write a new chapter on the Chinese and worldwide philanthropic history. The discussion was also joined by representatives of Heung Kong Charity Foundation, Ya'erde Group and Harmony Club's deputy secretary general Liu Nanxing.

For years, while leading the robust development of Cheung Kei, Chairman Chen has been actively fulfilling his social responsibility as an entrepreneur, dedicating himself to non-profit and philanthropic services and giving back to the community. He has donated over RMB 200 million yuan to all sorts of social non-profit programs and progressive groups. He declared that he will continue to demonstrate the social spirit of entrepreneur, make more contributions to philanthropic activities and apply philanthropic efforts to promote social development.