Fang Libangqin

Fang Libangqin, born April 4, 1935, is from Hubei province. Her early educational background includes graduation from the Department of Journalism at National Chengchi University in Taiwan. At the age of 11, she migrated from mainland China to Taiwan with her family. In 1960, she moved to San Francisco, United States, with her husband and family, starting her career with only 200 US dollars, engaging initially in printing and the catering industry, gradually developing her business amid hardships.

During her time in the United States, the Fang family has been engaged in the news industry for over forty years. In 1979, the couple founded "Asian Weekly," aimed at reflecting Asian American community news, expanding Chinese influence in American media. In 1987, they acquired the "Independent" newspaper, turning it into a broadsheet newspaper catering to San Francisco and surrounding areas. In 1991, she represented San Francisco at the National Political Leaders Conference, publicly supporting Chinese American rights, which drew widespread attention. In 1993, the Fang family acquired 11 English-language newspapers under the Chicago Newspaper Group, establishing one of the largest English-language non-daily newspaper groups in the United States.

In 2000, Fang Libangqin successfully acquired the mainstream English-language newspaper "The Observer," becoming its first Chinese female chairperson. This move was seen as a significant breakthrough for Chinese Americans in mainstream media. In the same year, she also acquired the "San Francisco Observer," leading to expansion and increased influence of her media group. Since then, she has established extensive business interests across media, real estate, trade, and other sectors.

Not only has Fang Libangqin achieved success in business, but she has also actively participated in social and political affairs. She has attended important political negotiations multiple times, advocating for Sino-American friendly relations. In 2000, she was declared "Fang Libangqin Memorial Day" by the San Francisco mayor. Her contributions to education are also notable; in 2008, she received the "Outstanding Educational Contribution Award" from Peking University and funded the construction of the "Fang Libangqin Building."

Furthermore, she actively promotes the peaceful unification of China among Chinese communities abroad. She established the "Northern California Chinese Peaceful Unification Promotion Association" and participated in the Global Chinese United Conference in Europe. She also led the construction of the Overseas Anti-Japanese War Memorial Hall, announced its upcoming opening in 2014, aiming to commemorate history and promote national spirit.

Fang Libangqin has received numerous honors, including the "Global Chinese Outstanding Person of the Year" in 2020, a "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the George H. W. Bush Foundation for US-China relations, and multiple community and women leadership awards. Her family members include her son Fang Yiwei, who served as chairman of the San Francisco-Shanghai Sister Cities Committee, and who tragically passed away in 2020 from a sudden heart attack.

Throughout her life, she has demonstrated lasting influence in promoting Sino-American exchanges, supporting education, advocating for Chinese overseas interests, and preserving cultural traditions. She remains an important figure in the Chinese American community in the United States.