On 18th June, the Lord Mayor’s Appeal (LMA) and the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK) jointly hosted a cheque donation ceremony to build a medical clinic in Daluo, Yunnan, China. The funds were raised through corporate partners of the ‘UK-China Charity Initiative’. They will create a clinic to improve health services for local people in this underprivileged area.

Speakers of the event include Qin Gang, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for the People’s Republic of China, Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, Alderman William Russell, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Fang Wenjian, Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK and General Manager of Bank of China London Branch, Jin Hongjiang, the Secretary of Jinping County Party Committee in Yunnan, China, and John McLean OBE, Head of China-UK relations for the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. Those who witnessed the ceremony include more than 30 representatives from various organisations, including John Edwards, HM Trade Commissioner for China, Sir Alderman Peter Estlin, Alderman Vincent Keaveny. the City of London Ward of Farringdon Within, the Lord Mayor Elect, Caroline Wright, CEO of the Lord Mayor’s Appeal, representatives from the CCCUK, Wu Huahao, Head of Jinping County, local government representatives overseeing the poverty alleviation project, and 13 corporate partners of the UK-China Charity Initiative 2020.

Picture 1. UK-China Charity Initiative Cheque Donation Ceremony

This year’s Yunnan Poverty Alleviation Project is the second Chinese poverty alleviation project successfully promoted by CCCUK and the LMA since the launch of the ‘UK-China Charity Initiative’ at the end of 2018. With the continuation of the theme of ‘UK-China Charity Initiative, Building Harmony Together’, the project will help construct the first medical clinic that meets the standards for Daluo Village in Jinping County, promoting the development of rural health service. After the 2020 ‘UK-China Charity Initiative’ project, CCCUK and the LMA worked closely together to carry out publicity and fundraising work. With the joint efforts of both parties, the team has successfully raised more than 50,000 pounds in a short period. Half of the donations will be used for Yunnan Poverty Alleviation Project, and the other half will be provided to the British charities supported by the Lord Mayor’s Appeal. As yet another achievement of the charity cooperation between China and the UK, the implementation of the Yunnan Poverty Alleviation Project has a more profound significance under the pandemic.

Picture 2. Qin Gang, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for the People’s Republic of China delivered a speech on the ceremony

Qin Gang, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs for the People’s Republic of China, thanked the British community for their generous donation for building the medical clinic in Daluo village, Yunnan, China. The successful completion of this poverty alleviation project will significantly improve the local health services and create a better living environment for the villagers as essential members of the international community. China and Britain share the responsibility for eradicating poverty and achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals. This project is another example of the cooperation between China and the UK to help reduce poverty. It is of great significance to the further collaboration between the two countries on the sustainable development agenda. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to cooperate with the international community to support China’s victory in battling against poverty.

Picture 3. Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK delivered a speech

Liu Xiaoming, Chinese Ambassador to the UK, said that 2020 is the year China has set the goal of eliminating absolute poverty despite the challenge from COVID-19. Against this background, today’s donation by the China-UK Charity Initiative for building public health facilities in Jinping County bears three-fold significance:

1. It is a valuable support for China’s efforts to eliminate absolute poverty.
2. This charity project is a new highlight in the China-UK joint response to COVID-19.
3. This charity project provides further impetus for China-UK friendly cooperation.

He expressed confidence that the China-UK Charity Initiative will pull the efforts of both countries to make a new and more outstanding contribution to China-UK cooperation and international collaboration on reducing poverty and promoting economic and social progress.

Picture 4. Alderman William Russell, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, delivered a speech

Alderman William Russell, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, highlighted the importance of joint working with mutual aims between nations and national agencies like the health sector or businesses and our universities, especially in this difficult time during the pandemic. Earlier this year, the ‘UK-China Charity Initiative’ supported British health workers by procuring and donating a large number of PPEs, reflecting the preciousness of the charity spirit and the deep friendship of the Chinese and British people. The poverty alleviation project in China is another example of practical cooperation between China and the UK. The Lord Mayor’s Appeal will continue to support those most affected by the pandemic through its charities and provide vital support to UK-China charity projects.

Picture 5. Fang Wenjian, Chairman of the CCCUK and General Manager of Bank of China London Branch, delivered a speech

Fang Wenjian, Chairman of the CCCUK and General Manager of Bank of China London Branch, said that the UK and China working together is the only right direction under the current pandemic background. The UK society and the Daluo Village are bound together by the Yunnan Project, passing the love and blessing from Chinese enterprises in the UK and British society to people in a rural area in China. Chinese enterprises will continue to deepen UK-China friendship and cooperation and make new and more excellent contributions to the common well-being of the people in both countries.

Witnessed by all the attendees, Alderman William Russell, the Lord Mayor of the City of London, Fang Wenjian, Chairman of the CCCUK and John McLean OBE, Head of China-UK relations for the LMA. Handed over the donation cheque jointly to Jin Hongjiang, the Secretary of Jinping County Party Committee.

Picture 6. Jin Hongjiang, the Secretary of Jinping County Party Committee in Yunnan (left), delivered the thank-you speech

Jin Hongjiang, the Secretary of Jinping County Party Committee in Yunnan, received the cheque, expressed his gratitude for all the support and assistance Jinping County had received. He said that the landing of the medical clinic project in Daluo village had shown the embodiment of solidarity and friendship between China and the UK. All the people in Jinping are making all-out efforts to promote social and economic development. Despite the spread of COVID-19, we will try to live up to the goodwill and expectations of all those who have offered help along the way. Jinping County has graduated from poverty. The local government is working to bring local people a better life and make sure that Jinping will join the rest of the country in the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

The cheque donation ceremony ended successfully in a warm and peaceful atmosphere. The guests spoke highly of the contribution of the ‘UK-China Charity Initiative’ to the public welfare of both countries. They believe that the success of this event will boost confidence in the bright future of the UK-China friendly relationship. Also that China and Britain will continue to deepen reciprocal cooperation to create more significant achievements.