Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on overseas Chinese and those who have returned to China to play a greater role in advancing the country’s national rejuvenation, urging them to use their unique strengths to support China’s long-term development and national reunification.
Xi, who is also General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction on work related to overseas Chinese that was conveyed during a national conference in Beijing this week.
He called for the full implementation of the Communist Party’s policies concerning overseas Chinese affairs and encouraged the global Chinese community to contribute to China’s modernisation drive.
According to Chinese state media, Xi said overseas Chinese, along with returned overseas Chinese and their families, should leverage their international networks, expertise and resources to support the country’s development while also contributing to the cause of national reunification.
China estimates that more than 60 million overseas Chinese live across nearly 200 countries and regions, while over 40 million returned overseas Chinese and their family members reside in China. Beijing has long viewed the overseas Chinese community as an important bridge for economic cooperation, cultural exchanges and international engagement.
The instruction was delivered at the National Conference on Overseas Chinese Affairs, held in Beijing from Monday to Tuesday.
Addressing the meeting, Wang Huning, China’s fourth-ranking leader and chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), said Xi’s directive provides the strategic direction for overseas Chinese work in the “new era.”
Wang called for greater efforts to promote high-quality development in overseas Chinese affairs and to ensure the Party’s policies are fully implemented.
Beijing has increasingly emphasised the role of overseas Chinese in strengthening China’s global influence, encouraging investment, technology cooperation and people-to-people exchanges while reinforcing support for its key national priorities, including reunification.
(with inputs from agencies)