“Reshaping Destiny”
Education and Medical
Programme for
Western China

Project Goals and Purpose

• To provide high speed, interactive multimedia distance learning technology for students in rural areas in Western China.
• Mr Li Ka-shing led a working team from the LKSF on a frigid day in February 2001 that included Ministry of Education officials to visit Western China including stops at Xinjiang, Gansu, Qinghai, Sichuan, Chongqing, Guizhou and Guangxi. During the visit, Mr Li met regional government officials and university representatives, and deliberated on how injecting educational resources and developing talents and technology could expedite the development of Western China.
• After nine days of visits and discussions, Mr Li committed to contributing HK$300 million to fund the Satellite Transmission Advance Network For Distance-Learning in Rural Areas and several educational and medical initiatives, including the construction of high-speed, interactive multimedia technology platforms. “Network Construction for Universities in the West” and “Distance Learning for Primary and Secondary School Students in the West” were two pilot programmes with the broadest coverage. Upon successful implementation, the Central Government invested another RMB10 billion to expand coverage, benefiting as many as 120 million students nationwide.