HK business magnate donates 200 million yuan to Tsinghua University

A 200 million yuan donation ($29 million) to Tsinghua University will help to pay for two new blocks for the Tsinghua University Biomedical Sciences Building.

The money from Lui Che-woo, chairman of Hong Kong-based conglomerate K Wah Group and director of Lui Che Woo Charity, will be used for providing better research and teaching facilities, as well as supporting the development of medical, pharmaceutical science and other related disciplines for the university.

"Tsinghua University's commitment to cultivating top-notch talent with a broad view of the world and social awareness, as well as becoming a world-class university, coincides with mine, hence the decision to support the development of the biomedical science building,"Lui said at the recent signing ceremony in Beijing.

"The university's School of Life Sciences, School of Medicine and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences are among the top cutting-edge scientific institutions in China. I hope the donation will further drive the academic research and deployment for the university, thus bolstering the improvement of soft power, such as innovation."

Lui called for instilling knowledge, as well as moral principles, and promoting social civilization while driving economic growth.

The planned biomedical sciences building mainly will be used by the School of Life Sciences for teaching and scientific research in life sciences, medicine, pharmaceutical sciences and other cross-discipline subjects. Top scientific research institutions will be settled in the building, such as the Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, The IDG McGovern Institute for Brain Research and The National Center for Protein Sciences.

The new Lui Che Woo Building, consisting of C and D blocks, is set to be used for teaching and scientific research in pharmaceutical sciences and cross-disciplinary subjects in life sciences. And the two new blocks will house scientific research institutions, including the Global Health Drug Discovery Institute in Beijing, Tsinghua Pharmaceutical Innovation Center and the Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.

Chen Xu, party secretary of Tsinghua University, said the university paid close attention to the development of medical sciences, and it would further develop the cross-disciplinary subjects between life sciences and other subjects, and foster new momentum.

"I believe the Lui Che Woo Building will lay a key foundation for the development of medical sciences, providing strong support for Tsinghua to become a leading university in the world," Chen added.

Lui Che-woo, the 89-year-old property and casino tycoon, has been passionate about the development of biomedical research and education. Last year, Lui donated 120 million yuan to the School of Life Sciences of Peking University, with most going to fund a new life sciences research building.

As early as 2015, Lui established the Lui Che Woo Prize-Prize for World Civilization, as he believes education is the key to future prospects. The prize aims to recognize and honor individuals and organizations that are devoted to sustainable development in the world and the betterment of the welfare of humankind, as well as promoting a positive attitude.

The prize has been awarded to people or organizations such as Yuan Longping, China's "father of hybrid rice"; Xie Zhenhua, China's special representative on climate change affairs; Hans-Josef Fell, a founding figure of the global renewable energy movement; the World Meteorological Organization and the Pratham Education Foundation.