Thursday, September 16, 2010

China millionaire says 100 others will donate riches

BEIJING (AFP) - – A rich Chinese businessman said he has convinced more than 100 other industrialists to give away their personal wealth, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday.

Chen Guangbiao, who heads a resource recycling company, has said he will leave his entire fortune -- which state media has put at more than five billion yuan (735 million dollars) -- to charity after his death.

The pledge came ahead of a banquet for Chinese philanthropists to be hosted later this month by US billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, who have called on their wealthy compatriots to give away at least half of their assets.

Chen has convinced other Chinese entrepreneurs to donate their assets as well, Xinhua reported.

"Although the pledge-makers do not want to be exposed to the media, I give my sincere respect to their charity spirit," Chen was quoted saying.

The report gave no other details.

State press reports earlier said Chen was one of only two of China's super-rich to confirm their attendance at the Gates-Buffet event in Beijing on September 29.

The invitees were worried they would be pressured to donate by Gates and Buffett, the two richest Americans, the reports said.

Gates and Buffet insisted this week in a letter quoted by Xinhua that they would exert no such pressure and merely wanted to share their philanthropy experiences with others.

China has the second-most billionaires after the United States.

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