Over 4,000 poor Chinese college students have received financial support from the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation since 2003.

They have received over 14 million yuan (US$1.75 million) in subsidies or scholarships from the foundation's project of future designed to assist college students to complete their schooling, according to the information from the foundation.

Fan Qianning, a student with the Beijing Jiaotong University, said, "The project has not only helped me materially, but consoled me spiritually so that I can hold a more positive attitude toward difficulties in my life."

The project was set up in July 2003 and has evolved into a talent development system that covers over 80 institutions of higher education around the country.

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2006)