Jet Li’s One Foundation and Beijing Normal University issued a consensus statement in Beijing on Saturday, November 6.

Jet Li, Chief of One Foundation speaks at the press conference for Joint Consensus with BNU. [Maverick Chen / China.org.cn]

The consensus finds that current philanthropy in China lags far behind developed countries, and the development of philanthropy in China itself is becoming inconsistent with the growth of the national economy and accumulation of social wealth. The consensus also says that in spreading philanthropic notions to the public, the recipients’ own wishes and demands shouldn’t be neglected.

"Philanthropy in China is turning from sheer charity itself – donation on touching stories – to a systematic undertaking in which professionalism and understanding of the social structure are both necessary," said Li, film star-turned philanthropist and chief of his One Foundation.

"The development of China’s philanthropy shouldn’t be measured on what percentage the fund takes up in the country’s GDP, or how far away it’s still lagging behind that in the United States," he said, adding that the difference between charitable behavior and philanthropy is that the latter depends on a sustainable devotion and professionalism to make it happen.