China's former first lady Wang Guangmei, who died Friday, was given China Poverty Eradication Awards for her poverty alleviation achievements in Beijing Tuesday, reports chinanews.com.

 

Wife of late Chinese President Liu Shaoqi, Wang died of heart and kidney failure at a Beijing military hospital on Friday. She was 85.

 

In 1996, Wang auctioned her private antique collection and used proceeds to help impoverished mothers, initiating "Project Happiness".

 

The collection, consisting of porcelain bowls and plates and a brush holder made of ivory dating back to the Qing (1644-1911) and Song (960-1279) dynasties, were Wang's dowry from her wealthy father.

 

"I would be reluctant to part with what my mother left me without a reason ... (but) my heart aches even more when I see impoverished mothers," Wang said at the time.

 

The second China poverty eradication awarding ceremony was held in the capital's Great Hall of the People today to mark the 14th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

 

The grand event, hosted by the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development and the Ministry of Commerce, attracted 20 government officials from poverty reduction departments in 16 countries, as well as officials from the Chinese government, the UN organizations and foreign embassies to China.

 

(China Daily October 18, 2006)