Sukanto Tanoto, founder and chairman ofSingapore RGE Group and his delegation visited Zhejiang University on November1. President Wu Zhaohui met with Sukanto Tanoto and his delegation and theyheld a discussion on the development of ZJU and its foreign exchanges.
Wu Zhaohui welcomed Sukanto Tanoto andhis delegation and introduced the history and current development, inparticular, the key historical events of Zhejiang University, e.g. itsmigration to the West and the merger of four universities into ZJU. Wu Zhaohuihighlighted that Sukanto Tanoto, a well-known Chinese entrepreneur andvisionary, has been very concerned and supportive of China’s construction anddevelopment. This year marks 40th anniversary of China’s reform andopening up and 20th anniversary of the merger of ZhejiangUniversity. As a banner of China’s higher education reforms, ZhejiangUniversity has been in the forefront in training a large number of talents forChina and society, and making due contributions to the local and national economicand social development. The 120-year history of Zhejiang University is not onlya microcosm of China’ higher education development, but a witness, participantand contributor to Chinese prosperity and progress.
Singapore RGE Group is an industrialmultinational integrating forestry-pulp-paper, agricultural products, industry,specially dissolved wood pulp, cellulose fiber and energy development. Over theyears, Sukanto Tanoto and his wife, Tinah Bingei Tanoto, have been keen onphilanthropic work and founded Tanoto Foundation to help alleviate poverty andcontribute to social development. Therefore, Sukanto Tanoto has been grantedtwice “China Charity Award--The Individual with Most Loving Heart”, the highestgovernment award in the field of charity in China.
After expressing his gratitude toZhejiang University for its warm reception, Sukanto Tanoto said there isphilanthropy and belief in China with 5000-year history and culture and themotto of Zhejiang University embodies seeking truth and pursuing dedication.
In the discussions, the two sides alsoexchanged views on the reforms of the medical systems in China and Singapore,the development of Zhejiang University, including the research on children’sdevelopment. Sukanto Tanoto proposed its cooperation with ZJU in the care,education and medical care of left-behind children in China. During his visit,Sukanto Tanoto also had in-depth discussions with professors of the School ofManagement and School of Public Affairs on family enterprises, corporategovernance as well as the management and training of leaders of the CPC and theChinese government.
Prof.Luo Weidong, Vice President, Fan Rusong, consultant of development &liaison and the heads of some departments were also present.