A seminar on China's charity culture, first of its kind in the country, started Saturday in Jinjiang City of east China's Fujian Province, attracting some 60 experts from across the country including Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions.  

The seminar was jointly organized by China Charity Federation, China Sociology Association, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Sociology Institute, Social Sciences Publishing House and Jinjiang municipal government.

Sociologists and charity experts will exchange views on topics such as functions of charity works in the modern society, charity culture and social policies, according to the seminar's organizers.

Statistics with the Ministry of Civil Affairs show that charity donations only account for less than 1 percent of China's Gross National Product (GNP) currently, far lagging behind the fast social and economic development of the society.

"The space for developing China's charity works will expand enormously in the coming years, " said Vice Minister of Civil Affairs Li Liguo at the seminar's opening ceremony Saturday.

(Xinhua News Agency December 19, 2004)