Chinese charity donations rebound after scandal

After two years' falling, donations to Chinese charities rebounded to 98.9 billion yuan (16.1 billion US dollars) in 2013, a 21.06 percent increase than 2012.

The figures are released in a report by the China Charity and Donation Information Center, which is under the Ministry of Civil Affairs.

Citing the State Council's relaxation on the registration of social organizations and the Lushan earthquake, the report said the rebound is due to a better philanthropy environment, citizens' improved charity awareness and public enthusiasm after natural disasters.

The fall of donations in 2011 and 2012 came after a series of scandals involving several charitable organizations, including Red Cross Society of China, shook the public trust in charities' ability to manage donations.

The report said 70 percent of the total donations in 2013 were from corporations, most of which are privately own firms and foreign companies.

In contrast to previous years, when largest share of the donations went to education, healthcare related areas took 40 percent of the total in 2013, mainly as drug donations and medical operation funding.

The report also listed equity donations and donation through the Internet as two new trends.