International Charity Law Comparative Seminar, Beijing

The three-day seminar, from 12th to 14th October, 2004, was an opportunity for officials and experts in China to exchange experience and views with their international counterparts on the challenge of determining how to reform and develop the country's philanthropic sector. Referring to the ongoing reforming context under which "China has developed into a society of laws" and is "opening to the outside world", CCF President, Mr. Fan Baojun, underlined that "law-making in respect of charity is far from perfect, and hence there is an urgent need for state legislation in order to regulate all charity activities".

The AKDN was represented at the seminar by Shams Vellani, its Special Projects Director. In view of the national standing of CCF and the importance the Government attaches to this programme of reform, the seminar's inaugural session and the first working session were held at the Great Hall of the People. Mr. Vellani was one of the speakers at the inaugural session held in the presence of Government Ministers, Senior Party members and other officials. He also delivered a short address on the theme of Philanthropy in Islam as an introduction to AKDN, at the first working session that followed the seminar's inauguration.

With support from the Ford Foundation, another principal sponsor, the seminar was co-organized by International Center for Not-for-Profit Law and Brigham Young University Law School, USA. NuSkin (China), General Motors Corporation China, Brigham Young University Law School, United Way International, and LDS Charity were major sponsors while Operation Blessing/CBN, A Child's Hope Foundation, and Morrison and Forester LLP also supported the seminar as sponsors.