China has set up its own recurring donation system featuring the extensive participation of social, rather than governmental, forces, and which is guided by civil affairs departments.

Wang Zhenyao, director of the disaster and social relief department under the Ministry of Civil Affairs, made the remarks Monday at a Business and Civil Society Forum, the first-ever international forum of its kind hosted by China.

China, with over 20,000 donation workstations, has undergone three major steps in recurring donation, said Wang.

The "recurring, non-governmental and voluntary" donation system first appeared in 1995. During flood-fighting in 1998, the social donations amounted to 7 billion yuan, exceeding the figure from the government for the first time. In 2001, China reinforced its work on the donation system, aiming for the establishment of a service network, Wang added.

According to Wang, the donation system, as a supplement to the government, had benefited 360 million needy people, who had received 9.493 billion yuan and materials worth 10.505 billion yuan from 1996 to 2002.

However, there are still some difficulties in people's awareness, fundraising efficiency and waste of resources, said Fan Baojun, president of the China Charity Federation.

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