China has had more than 1,000 public welfare organizations, which, have received nearly 10 billion yuan of donation in the past ten years, People's Daily learned from the summit forum on China's public welfare and building harmonious society in Beijing on October 17.

However, at present needy people still amount to 140 to 180 million, about 11 to 14 percent of Chinese population.

Donations, which used to be organized by government, are now widely participated by the masses.

Currently, there are more than 20, 000 permanent stations for donations across the nation. Short message has become a new way of donation.

The forum, cosponsored by eight organizations including the Red Cross Society of China and People's Daily, aims at developing the cause of public welfare and promoting the development of harmonious society. Participants exchanged views on how the pubic welfare organizations should make use of opportunities in the course of developing a harmonious society.

By People's Daily Online