On the morning of September 20, the 16th Representative Assembly of Returned Overseas Chinese and Their Relatives took place at the Beijing Conference Center, attracting notable figures such as Yin Li, Secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee, and Wan Lijun, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and President of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. Both leaders addressed the audience during the opening ceremony, with Li Xiu, Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress, also in attendance.
In his remarks, Yin Li highlighted the vital contributions of returned overseas Chinese and their families, as well as overseas Chinese citizens, in realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. He urged attendees to actively participate in China’s modernization efforts and to contribute to the capital’s development in this new era. Emphasizing the need for national unity, Yin called for a strong stance against divisive rhetoric and actions, stressing the importance of building a sense of community among the Chinese people and promoting national reunification. He advocated for increased exchanges and cooperation with countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, encouraging contributions aimed at high-quality development in Beijing. He also underscored the significance of promoting Chinese culture and sharing stories that reflect both China’s heritage and the experiences of Beijing, urging individuals to integrate into and give back to their local communities to foster personal growth alongside that of their homeland and host countries.
Additionally, Yin proposed a comprehensive enhancement of the Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, advocating for reforms to transform it into a trustworthy, united, and welcoming space for returned overseas Chinese and their families. He called on all levels of the party and government to create favorable conditions for the federation’s initiatives.
Wan Lijun praised the efforts of the capital’s Chinese community organizations and acknowledged the strong support and attention from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, under the leadership of Xi Jinping, towards returned overseas Chinese and their relatives. He expressed his hopes that various organizations and members of the Federation would embrace Xi Jinping’s thoughts on socialism with Chinese characteristics for a new era, directing their efforts towards supporting the reform and development of the capital. Wan encouraged them to focus on improving the welfare of overseas Chinese in this new era.
During the assembly, a representative from the Beijing Youth Federation also addressed the audience on behalf of the city’s youth organizations. City leaders, including Xia Linmao, Yang Jinbo, Zhao Lei, and Cui Shuqiang, were also present at the event.
