The Ministry of Civil Affairs (MCA) has issued a program to further the development of charity activities in China over the next five years.
Fan Baojun, chair of China Charity Federation (CCF), says that China now has approximately 280,000 non-governmental charity organizations registered in MCA by the end of 2004.
MCA says charity activities should be aimed at helping those with basic living difficulties, and raising their living standards, the program notes.
The program sets forth general requirements and major targets for the development of charity activities in the next five years from 2006 to 2010, and elaborates the guidelines on the principles, basic policies and related measures for charity organizations.
Since the 1990s, laws and regulations relating to donations, taxation, and charity management have been passed, including the Donation Law on Public Welfare, Registration Regulations for Social Organizations, and Regulations for Foundations.
But there are no specific laws or regulations governing the procedure, financing, evaluation and supervision of charity activities, which should be established as soon as possible to ensure smooth operations.
