Int'l foundation forum opens in east China

The Third Global Foundation (Nanjing) Leaders Forum drew foundation representatives from more than 30 countries and regions to the capital of east China's Jiangsu Province on Thursday.

Focusing on international cooperation between aid organizations, think-tanks and other foundations, the forum was co-organized by the China Foundation for Human Rights Development and the information office of Jiangsu provincial government.

Foundations should develop friendly relations and cooperate with their counterparts in other systems, culture and ethnicity, said Huang Mengfu, president of the sponsor foundation, when addressing the two-day event.

They should respect the diversity of civilizations and scrap arrogance and prejudice, Huang said.

Cui Yuying, deputy director of the State Council Information Office, called for cooperation between Chinese and foreign foundations on assistance in underdeveloped countries.

Cui said the Chinese government has always encouraged domestic foundations to extend a hand to those countries in areas of poverty alleviation, education, health care and disaster relief.

As the world's largest developing country, China has more than 4,000 foundations. Endi