Xiamen University (XMU) received 320 million yuan ($51.6 million), on April 6, for its 93rd anniversary, with around 280 million of it intended for its new Malaysian campus, from a number of donors.

The generous donation came from Robert Kuok, president of the Kerry Group and Malaysia's richest man with Fuzhou city roots, who gave 200 million for a library, Long Yuhan, chairman of the China Garden (Group) Co, who gave 50 million yuan, and Tan Sri Dato Lee Shin Cheng, executive chairman of the Malaysia IOI Group, donating 30 million yuan for a teaching building. Other donors included Xiamen University's Xiamen Eye Center, at 12 million, Zheng Jinquan, chairman of the Xiamen Haiao International Sports Co, at 10 million, and Nan Cundian, chairman of the Xiamen Rihua Technology Co,10 million. In addition, the Hong Kong Society for the Promotion of Virtue (HK SPV) gave HKD2.32 million, bringing its total over a 6-year period to more than HKD100 million.

The Malaysian campus will be in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, near the airport, on 60 hectares of land. Preparations are under way, with construction work expected to start next month, and the school ready for its first students by September 2015.

By Lu Ting from China Daily Fujian Bureau

Edited by Zhao Qian and Roger Bradshaw