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Beijing, 16 August 2013 – A ceremonial signing event was held on 15 August to celebrate Hainan Airlines becoming the first airline in Mainland China to join UNICEF's Change for Good® alliance. UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific Dan Toole and UNICEF Representative to China Gillian Mellsop attended the ceremony.

©UNICEF/China/2013 On 15 August 2013, a ceremonial signing event is held in Beijing to celebrate Hainan Airlines becoming the first airline in Mainland China to join UNICEF's Change for Good® alliance.

“UNICEF's relationship with the HNA Group started several years ago with a very generous offer of support for children affected by the Haiti earthquake.  We soon discovered that the HNA Group was also enthusiastic in supporting UNICEF advocate for child rights and child protection concepts in China.” said Gillian Mellsop, “I am very happy to welcome Hainan Airlines, as the first airline in Mainland China, to join in this global effort to support UNICEF's work with children.”

The 5-year Change for Good® programme with Hainan Airlines will be officially launched in September 2013. Hainan Airlines is committed to raising RMB10 million through the programme to support UNICEF's work in China and around the world. 

“After becoming the first airline in mainland China to join UNICEF's Change for Good® alliance, Hainan Airlines will continue to focus on improving children's situation in China and around the world,” said Chen Ming, Board Chairman of Hainan Airlines, ”It is a firm step forward for Hainan Airlines in fulfilling our corporate social responsibility.”

©UNICEF/China/2013 HNA Group, Hainan Airlines and UNICEF jointly sign an agreement to launch the 5-year Chang for Good® programme in China.

In China, HNA Group has also supported UNICEF to conduct  several summer camps that promoted child rights for vulnerable children. 

Change for Good® is an innovative partnership between UNICEF and the international airline industry. Established in 1991, it is one of UNICEF's best-known and longest-running partnerships. This project appeals to travellers to donate onboard the aircraft, to help UNICEF to improve the lives of children, and to help them to develop to their fullest potential. So far, Change for Good® has raised over US$120 million  globally. Currently the partnership has 11 international airline members including  Cathay Pacific Airways, Finnair, American Airlines and Qantas.

About UNICEF in China:
UNICEF first assisted China between 1947 and 1951, providing emergency services, food and nutrition, health and hygiene training during and after the Civil War. In 1979 UNICEF officially commenced its cooperation with the Government of China to support child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is on the ground in over 190 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence.

Visit our official website: www.unicef.cn
Follow us: Sina Weibo http://weibo.com/unicefchina Tecent Weibo http://t.qq.com/unicef

For further information, please contact: Dale Rutstein, UNICEF China, +8610 85312610, drutstein@unicef.org or Liu Li, UNICEF China, +8610 85312612, liliu@unicef.org