2012 News Releases

Shanghai, China – Manulife-Sinochem (MSL), the first Sino-foreign joint venture life insurance company in China, has published its findings from a survey on the well-being of children in middle class families. The survey, “Happy ‘00 Generation White Paper”, was conducted in collaboration with the Horizon research consultancy group over the space of two months, interviewing 50,000 families in 48 cities across 12 provinces. The findings reveal that, despite Chinese parents’ high expectations for their offspring, most do not have a concrete plan for their future well-being.

The white paper paints a comprehensive picture of the growth of the generation born in middle-class families in the year 2000 and after. It introduces parents’ wide-ranging hopes and plans for their children, and the factors that most influence their children’s happiness.

Young parents in middle-class families are paying close attention to their children’s growth and development, with over 91 percent of those interviewed regarding good health and safety as keys to happiness. Despite that focus on health, only 17 percent of primary school students engage in regular physical exercise.

In addition, instead of planning for their children’s future education, career development and personality formation in a systematic manner, most parents are focused on savings and the provision of daily necessities. Nearly 80 percent of parents have neither planned nor are planning for their children’s growth, and there is a general lack of awareness of the need for comprehensive growth planning.

In response to this gap between aspiration and action, the white paper proposes a “’00 Generation Growth Plan,” suggesting ways in which parents can plan ahead for their children’s happiness in terms of their future careers, health, finance and education.

Since 2010, MSL has conducted annual nationwide surveys on Chinese people’s happiness. It earlier published the White Paper on the Happiness of Chinese Middle-Class Families and the Happy 2030 White Paper on the Retirement Plans of Chinese Middle-Class Families. From creating a happiness index for middle-class families to showcasing the issues involved in a happy retirement and focusing on children’s growth plans, MSL has been keeping a watchful eye on the happiness and well-being of Chinese middle-class families. MSL is dedicated to providing strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking insurance products and services to its clients in China, helping more and more families lead happy lives.

About Manulife-Sinochem
Manulife-Sinochem, which is headquartered in Shanghai, is the first Sino-foreign joint venture life insurance company in China. Its shareholders are Canada’s Manulife Financial, and China’s Sinochem Corporation. Manulife-Sinochem is a joint-venture company between Manulife (International) Limited and the China Foreign Economy and Trade Trust Company (a member of the Sinochem group). To date the Company has over 16,000 professionally trained agents and employees, providing financial and insurance services to more than 650,000 customers. The company is operating in 50 cities in Shanghai, Beijing, Guangdong, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Shandong, Fujian, Chongqing, Liaoning, Tianjin, Hubei and Hebei. With more than fifteen years’ successful experience, Manulife-Sinochem is committed to offering comprehensive insurance products combined with excellent customer service.

Manulife-Sinochem can be found on the internet at www.manulife-sinochem.com.

About Manulife Financial
Manulife Financial is a leading Canada-based financial services group with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States. In 2012, we celebrate 125 years of providing clients strong, reliable, trustworthy and forward-thinking solutions for their most significant financial decisions. Our international network of employees, agents and distribution partners offers financial protection and wealth management products and services to millions of clients. We also provide asset management services to institutional customers. Funds under management by Manulife Financial and its subsidiaries were C$512 billion (US$512 billion) as at March 31, 2012. The Company operates as Manulife Financial in Canada and Asia and primarily as John Hancock in the United States.

Manulife Financial Corporation trades as ‘MFC’ on the TSX, NYSE and PSE, and under ‘945’ on the SEHK. Manulife Financial can be found on the Internet at manulife.com.

About Sinochem
As one of the key state-owned enterprises, Sinochem Group has been named to “Fortune Global 500” for 22 times, ranking the 113th  in 2012. Sinochem’s core businesses span over energy, agriculture, chemical, real estate and financial service. It is one of China’s four state oil companies, China’s biggest agricultural input company (fertilizer, seed and pesticide), China’s leading chemical service company. It also exerts strong influence in real estate and non-banking financial service sector. Sinochem currently owns more than 200 subsidiaries inside and outside China. It controls several listed companies including Sinochem International (SH, 600500), Sinofert (HK, 00297), Franshion Properties (HK, 00817) and Far Eastern Horizon (HK, 03360). In June 2009, Sinochem Group established Sinochem Corporation as the vehicle for potential group IPO. More than 40,000 employees emulate Sinochem’s spirit of exploration and innovation, follow the doctrine of “Creating Value, Pursuing Excellence” and try their utmost to enhance the corporate value and to build a respectable company with global influence.

Sinochem can be found on the Internet at www.sinochem.com.

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