Zhang Bin (political strategist)

Zhang Bin
NationalityChinese
EmployerMillennium Golden Eagle International
OrganizationChina Cultural Industry Association
Known forPhilanthropy to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation
Political partyChinese Communist Party
For other people called Zhang Bin, see Zhang Bin.

Zhang Bin is a Chinese political strategist and business magnate.

He is the chairman of the Chinese-state affiliated Millennium Golden Eagle International, an advisor to the Chinese Communist Party, and the chair of the China Cultural Industry Association.

Adult life and career

Zhang is a Chinese[1] billionaire[2] who is the chairman[3] of the Chinese-state affiliated company Millennium Golden Eagle International and works as an advisor to the Chinese Communist Party.[4][2] As an official of the party, he promotes China's interests overseas.[2] Zhang is the president of the China Cultural Industry Association, and the managing director of the National Animation Game Industry Base Management Committee.[5] In his role at the China Cultural Industry Association, Zhang has met with John William Ashe the President of the United Nations General Assembly, Vijay K. Nambiar the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations, Irina Bokova, the Director General of UNESCO, and Francis Lorenzo, the president of the International Organization for South-South Cooperation.[5]

In 2013, Zhang donated $800,000 to the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine.[3] In 2023, the Université de Montreal was considering returning a $750,000 donation to Zhang.[6]

In 2016, Zhang met Justin Trudeau[7] and after attending a Liberal Party of Canada fundraiser hosted by the Chinese Business Chamber of Commerce,[4][8] he pledged to donate $200,000 to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation. However, only $140,000 was received.[9] Shortly after the event, Zhang donated $1m to the foundation.[10] The $200,000 donation made national news in Canada in 2023, leading to the resignation of most of the board of directors of the foundation.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ Brownell, Claire; Schwartz, Zane (12 Dec 2016). "Money began to rain on Trudeau Foundation once Justin took over Liberals, analysis shows". National Post. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  2. ^ a b c Fife, Robert (2023-04-12). "Trudeau Foundation to review donation from benefactors in China". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on 2023-04-12. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  3. ^ a b "Chinese businessman honours Bethune's legacy with gift to U of T's Faculty of Medicine". University of Toronto. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2023-03-18. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  4. ^ a b Blaff, Ari (2023-03-01). "Chinese Billionaire Who Donated $1 Million to Trudeau Foundation Wanted to Build Mao Statue in Montreal". National Review. Archived from the original on 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  5. ^ a b "Zhang Bin". China Cultural Industry Association. 2017-06-15. Archived from the original on 15 June 2017. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  6. ^ "Montreal university weighing options for donation linked to Beijing". Global News. 13 April 2023. Archived from the original on 2023-04-15. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  7. ^ "CCIA Meeting With Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau". China Cultural Industry Association. 6 July 2016. Archived from the original on 2022-07-06. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  8. ^ Major, Darren (1 March 2023). "Trudeau Foundation returning $200K to Beijing-linked donor". CBC. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  9. ^ Ballingall, Alex (2023-04-12). "What's going on with the Trudeau Foundation? Here's what we know about the controversy that led to a mass resignation". The Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 2023-04-14. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  10. ^ Nuttall, Jeremy (2016-11-22). "'It Doesn't Pass the Smell Test': Trudeau 'Cash-for-Access' Fundraiser Dominates Question Period". The Tyee. Archived from the original on 2021-01-20. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  11. ^ Major, Darren (16 April 2023). "What is the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation and what does it do?". CBC. Archived from the original on 16 April 2023. Retrieved 16 April 2023.