The 3rd World Philanthropy Forum to be Held in Shanghai

The 3rd World Philanthropy Forum (WPF) will be held from September 5-7 in Shanghai. This Forum is organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Tsinghua University, the University of Hong Kong, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and is co-hosted by the China Welfare Institute. Forum sponsors include the Institute for Philanthropy of Tsinghua University, Tsinghua University's Social Work Education Center, and the China Friendship Foundation for Peace and Development.

Under the theme of “Building a Sustainable Community with a Shared Future for Mankind,” the third WPF will focus on content concerning poverty eradication, health and well-being, quality education, sustainable cities and communities, and the partnership to promote the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Meanwhile, discussions at the Forum will revolve around issues such as global partnerships for sustainable development, World City 2050, vocational education and youth development, arts and humanities, global and regional poverty eradication and governance under the new era, women and child protection and Soong Ching Ling’s Thought, among others.

The Fourth Session of the 12th National People’s Congress of the People’s Republic of China passed the Charity Law of the People’s Republic of China in 2016, and designated September 5th (the International Day of Charity, proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly) as “Chinese Charity Day”. In the same year, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Tsinghua University initiated and invited the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation to co-organize the first WPF. Based in China and open to the world, the Forum is committed to promoting philanthropic practices, social services, academic exchange, policy advocacy, personnel training, experience sharing as well as international cooperation around the world. It focuses on the pressing issues and difficulties in human progress, respect for differences, equal participation and consensus gathering, actively implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and promoting the building of a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind. The two UN Secretary-Generals successively sent letters to celebrate the holding of the Forum.

It is reported that this Forum will also hold a series of activities to announce achievements, including the signing ceremony for The Belt & Road personnel training plan, the formal establishment of the academic committee, and the launch of the WPF Philanthropy Index Research. The Forum will also announce its venue and theme for 2019. In addition, it will also hold the “Annual Meeting of Collaboration Network For Philanthropy And Social Services” and organize visits to Shanghai-based charity organizations.