A photographic book illustrating the life of Lucio C. Tan, a well-known Philippines business tycoon of Chinese origin, was published in Beijing on Thursday.

Present at the book launching were Chen Jinhua and Luo Haocai, vice-chairmen of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, Tian Congming, president of the Xinhua News Agency, Lin Zhaoshu, chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, and Deng Pufang, chairman of the China Disabled Persons Federation.

The book comprises 360 valuable pictures and a biography of Lucio C. Tan in both Chinese and English portraying the major stages in his life.

Addressing the launching, Gao Qiufu, chairman of the book's editing committee, said the volume epitomized the successful overseas Chinese. It reflected the love of a descendant of the Chinese nation for his ancestral country.

In reply, Tan said it was his duty to bear in mind where his fortune came from and he would repay society.

Lucio C. Tan enjoys great fame among overseas Chinese and the industrial and commercial circles around the world. He has set up more than 100 ventures in Asia, Europe, America and Africa.

In his post as the president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Tan devoted himself to peaceful coexistence and economic development between China and the Philippines.

Tan has led a delegation to China twice and had cordial meetings with Chinese President Jiang Zemin.

As one of the first batch of overseas investors in China, he has built hospitals, schools and libraries in his hometown, supported China's Hope Project, facilities for the disabled and disaster-hit areas and built breweries in a dozen Chinese cities.

The 200 people at the ceremony included Philippines bankers, journalists and photographers, Beijing archivists and librarians and Tan's family members.

(Xinhua News Agency April 18, 2002)