At the ceremony

A signing ceremony was held to announce a donation by Aegon N.V. (Aegon), its joint venture in China, Aegon THTF Life Insurance Co, Ltd (Aegon THTF), and Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management (Tsinghua SEM) on April 13, 2023. The donation aims to integrate these enterprises and schools, innovate their collaborative efforts, and provide residents with retirement preparation models and templates that can be easily replicated and widely used. Additionally, the donation will provide talent training plans and intellectual support for high-quality development of the insurance industry.

Marco Keim addresses the ceremony

During his speech, Marco Keim, chief executive officer of International Business of Aegon, highlighted the importance of financial solutions that address the issue of an aging population and improve retirement readiness. Aegon has extensive experience in longevity risk research. The donation will be used to support longevity-related cutting-edge research and the development of insurance talent. By leveraging its expertise in life insurance, Aegon hopes to better participate in the construction and development of China's insurance industry. Aegon will continue to explore the Chinese market and seek more opportunities in the Chinese economy. It also looks forward to providing Chinese customers with better services and pension solutions using its century-old experience in life insurance operation and pension management.

HE Ping addresses the ceremony.

HE Ping, vice dean of Tsinghua SEM, said the relationship between Aegon and Tsinghua University is time-honored. As early as 1999, Aegon made donations to Tsinghua University and established the Aegon Tsinghua Insurance Education Fund, which is committed to supporting Tsinghua SEM to build a comprehensive insurance curriculum and train first-class insurance talents for China. Since 2013, Aegon has cooperated with Tsinghua SEM to study China's pension market every year and update its Survey Report on Chinese Residents' Retirement Readiness Index, which tracks changes in Chinese residents' awareness and pension readiness. The survey provides a theoretical reference for enterprises to effectively meet the needs of China's pension market. He said people with the same commitment don't feel distant even when separated. The bond of friendly cooperation has strengthened Tsinghua's friendship with Aegon.

ZHU Qingguo addresses the ceremony.

ZHU Qingguo, general manager of Aegon THTF, said in his address that Aegon THTF upholds Aegon’s mission of “Helping people live their best lives,” and has achieved a lot during its decades of cooperation with Tsinghua SEM, especially its research into Chinese residents’ retirement readiness. Its work has had an important and positive significance in raising awareness of the pension problem, enhancing citizens’ awareness of pension readiness, urging government departments to formulate and improve relevant policies, and helping commercial institutions explore the pension field. In the future, Aegon THTF will do its best to support the implementation of this cooperation project, especially the promotion of the Chinese residents' retirement readiness index research project. This will provide suggestions and countermeasures for China to cope with its aging population, bring new drivers of sustainable development, improve aggregation effects and contribute to the high-quality development of the insurance industry.

Signing donation agreement

During the ceremony, Aegon and Tsinghua SEM signed a donation agreement. According to the agreement, Aegon, Aegon THTF and Tsinghua SEM will utilize their strengths to establish a deeper cooperation relationship in discipline research, pension security, talent training and other aspects. The goal is to jointly build a platform for exchanges ideas, encourage companies and schools to cooperate, and contribute to the high-quality development of the insurance industry.

CHEN Bingzheng, director of China Center for insurance and Risk Management of Tsinghua SEM, LIANG Wuquan, member of the Party Committee and Chief Financial Officer of Tongfang Co., Ltd. (THTF), and WANG Lin, chairman of Aegon THTF, also attended the signing ceremony.