Late first lady rewarded for charity
By Echo Shan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-10-17 21:15
China's former first lady Wang Guangmei, who died Friday, was given
China Poverty Eradication Awards for her poverty alleviation achievements in
Beijing Tuesday, reports chinanews.com.
Formmer Chinese President Jiang Zemin (L) waves to
Wang Guangmei, widow of former Chinese President Liu Shaoqi, at the opening
session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing in
this March 3, 2001 file photo. Wang has died at 85 on October 16, 2006.
[Reuters]
Wife of late Chinese President Liu Shaoqi, Wang died of heart and kidney
failure at a Beijing military hospital on Friday. She was 85.
In 1996, Wang auctioned her private antique collection and used proceeds to
help impoverished mothers, initiating "Project Happiness".
The collection, consisting of porcelain bowls and plates and a brush holder
made of ivory dating back to the Qing (1644-1911) and Song (960-1279) dynasties,
were Wang's dowry from her wealthy father.
"I would be reluctant to part with what my mother left me without a reason
... (but) my heart aches even more when I see impoverished mothers," Wang said
at the time.
The second China poverty eradication awarding ceremony was
held in the capital's Great Hall of the People today to mark
the 14th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.
The grand event, hosted by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty
Alleviation and Development and the Ministry of Commerce, attracted 20
government officials from poverty reduction departments in 16 countries, as well
as officials from the Chinese government, the UN organizations and foreign
embassies to China.
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