China Charity Donates over 1.6 Bln Yuan

The China Foundation for Poverty Alleviation donated 1.642 billion yuan (US$263.7 million) to help China's impoverished regions shake off poverty in 2012, according to new figures.

The foundation granted a total of 1.35 billion yuan in petty loans and donated money and goods worth 292 million to the needy, Liu Wenkui,secretary general of the foundation, said on Tuesday.

Around 1.86 million people have benefited from the anti-poverty funds, including 70,000 malnourished pupils and 150,000 people affected by natural disasters.

Liu said the foundation received donations worth 273 million yuan from the public in 2012, a 14.2 percent increase year on year.