They had been criticised for showing a lack of warmth to the coming visit of evangelical philanthropists Bill Gates and Warren Buffett, but China’s rich have begun to pledge to give away their wealth to charity en masse.

Entrepreneur Chen Guangbiao, believed to be worth $440m, has pledged to give away his entire estate when he dies, and has announced that he has convinced more than 100 of his super-wealthy countrymen to do the same.

According to the state news agency Xhinhua, Chen said “the pledge makers do not want to be exposed to the media”, but commended their “charity  spirit”.

The announcement comes ahead of a scheduled visit by the Gates and Buffett, the leaders of the Giving Pledge initiative which has so far convinced 40 billionaire US families to give away the bulk of the wealth during their lifetimes.

Chinese billionaires had come under fire by the world’s media for showing a lack of interest in the gala dinner Gates and Buffett had planned to discuss the project, but in an open letter, the pair stressed that they were not intending to force the Giving Pledge model on their Asian counterparts.

"We know that the Giving Pledge is just one approach to philanthropy, and we do not know if it's the right path forward for China. Some people have wondered if we're coming to China to pressure people to give. Not at all," the letter reads.

"Our trip is fundamentally about learning, listening, and responding to those who express an interest in our own experiences. China's circumstances are unique, and so its approach to philanthropy will be, as well."

However, in the letter Gates and Buffett underlined the opportunity for good China’s super wealthy class possess:

"Certainly there is a long and noble tradition of giving in China going back centuries. But this is a particularly important moment in China's history. The present generation of successful entrepreneurs has an opportunity to set an example for future generations in China. It is very likely they will have a substantial impact on how large scale philanthropy grows and develops in modern China."