ACCA celebrates 20 years in China at a magnificent ceremony in Beijing
ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants), the global body for professional accountants, has marked 20 years in Mainland China with a magnificent ceremony in the Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing.
Leaders from the Ministry of Finance, China National Audit Office, China Securities Regulatory Commission and CICPA, along with representatives from universities and colleges, research institutions, tuition providers and employers were present at the ceremony on 20 September. They were joined by 200 guests, including ACCA Council members from all over the world and staff representatives from Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong SAR. Among the ACCA staff present were John Nyakahuma and Daisy Kopolo, senior staff from Africa, who were there at the specific request of CICPA, following their assistance to the CICPA delegation that visited Africa in 2007.
Speaking at the celebration, ACCA’s President Richard Aitken-Davies paid tribute to the outstanding achievements made by China since the country began its reforms and made the decision to open its markets to the world. He also praised the considerable progress achieved by China’s accounting and auditing profession during the past two decades.
ACCA also took the opportunity to congratulate CICPA on its 20th anniversary and offered ongoing support to CICPA as it continued to develop the CPA profession in China.
Mr. Aitken-Davies recalled the journey taken by ACCA in the past 20 years, linking ACCA’s success to the reform and the greater openness policy initiated by Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping.
He said ACCA’s development in China was linked to the country’s economic growth and said he was proud that ACCA had the opportunity to provide a large number of talented young people with the opportunity to qualify in an internationally recognised qualification, which will enable them to contribute to China’s economic development.
Mr Aitken-Davies said: “I believe there is a Chinese saying: it takes a long journey to test a horse. I would like to think that over the course of two decades, ACCA has been tested and not found wanting. I hope ACCA has shown its commitment to China and China has come to understand what ACCA stands for: that is, above all, building a stronger and more connected global profession which promotes and nurtures opportunity.”
He took the opportunity to express his deep gratitude to Chinese government leaders present for their support and co-operation.
Deputy Minister of Finance Wang Jun and Deputy Auditor General Shi Aizhong spoke at the event, which marked the climax of the celebrations of ACCA’s 20 years of working in China.
On 19 September, ACCA hosted a grand cocktail reception at the St. Regis hotel in Beijing when it presented ACCA achievement awards to individual ACCA members and students, tuition providers, universities and colleges, accounting firms and enterprises who have made contribution to ACCA’s development in China. A large number of ACCA Chinese members were present.
ACCA President Richard Aitken-Davies also spoke at this event, focusing on the role and influence ACCA has in the international accounting profession. He said he was delighted to see ACCA’s development in China and thanked the Chinese partners for their co-operation, promising that ACCA would continue to provide support and assistance to ACCA students and members in China throughout their entire professional careers.
On 20-21 September, ACCA Council met in Beijing. 36 council members from all over the world and ACCA senior management attended the meeting, which reviewed and ratified various plans and the programme for ACCA’s worldwide operation. This is the second time that ACCA’s Council has met outside Europe, demonstrating the importance ACCA places on the Chinese market.
The year 2008 marks the 20th anniversary of ACCA in China. In November 1988, ACCA sent its first senior delegation on a fact-finding mission to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. In 1990, the first ACCA class was organized in Beijing with 30 students selected from government departments. After 20 years development, ACCA today has 3,000 members and 18,000 students in Mainland China and has total of 60,000 members and students all over China, including Hong Kong SAR.
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Notes to Editors
1. ACCA is the global body for professional accountants. We aim to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people of application, ability and ambition around the world who seek a rewarding career in accountancy, finance and management. We have 325,606 students and 122,426 members in 170 countries worldwide.
2. ACCA believes that globalisation of business requires one set of reporting standards. We favour principles-based, not rules-based standards, which is why we support the worldwide implementation of IFRS.
3. ACCA believes that tax systems should be transparent, simplified, fair and certain.
4. Complying with regulations affects SMEs disproportionately, which is why ACCA urges governments and standard setters to ‘think small first'’
For further information please contact:
Colin Davis, ACCA Newsroom phone: +44 (0)20 7059 5738 e mail: colin.davis@accaglobal.com