Xi urges pooling strength of overseas Chinese

President Xi Jinping has called for rallying the strength of overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese and their relatives to contribute to building China into a strong country and advancing national rejuvenation.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in an instruction conveyed at a national meeting on work related to Chinese nationals overseas, which was held in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday.

More than 60 million Chinese residing in nearly 200 countries and regions, together with over 40 million returned overseas Chinese and their family members in China, have helped drive China's development while promoting Chinese culture and deepening international exchanges and cooperation.

Xi highlighted the positive contributions made by those working in the field of overseas Chinese affairs since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, including advancing China's economic and social development, preserving and promoting Chinese culture, and strengthening exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries.

On the new journey, greater efforts should be made to rally the support and strength of overseas Chinese and returned overseas Chinese and their relatives, and to encourage them to carry forward fine traditions and foster a strong sense of attachment to their ancestral country, Xi said.

He also called on them to leverage their unique strengths, make greater contributions, actively support the cause of national reunification, and promote unity and concerted efforts among Chinese people at home and abroad.

Such efforts will help pool tremendous strength for building China into a strong country and advancing national rejuvenation on all fronts through Chinese modernization, Xi said.

Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, China's top political advisory body, attended the meeting and delivered a speech.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn