Seventh congress of returned overseas Chinese and their relatives opens in Beijing, July 20, 2004. Approximately 1,000 representatives from across China and more than 100 specially-invited guests of honor worldwide are attending the congress.

Facts have proven that overseas Chinese, Chinese residing aboard and their relatives are an important force behind the realization of the entire nation's revitalization, said a senior CPC official on Tuesday.

Wang Zhaoguo, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), delivered a congratulatory speech at the seventh congress of returned overseas Chinese and their relatives on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

The Seventh National Congress of Returned Overseas Chinese and Their Relatives, which opened Tuesday in Beijing, sent a clear message: That returned Chinese can help build a well-off society.

Top Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo and Premier Wen Jiabao, attended the opening session of the congress.

In his address, Wang expressed sincere hopes that the returned overseas Chinese and their relatives would make new contributions to China's modernization construction.

He also hoped that they could make new contribution to the country's reunification cause, saying that returned overseas Chinese have acknowledged that reunification brings welfare to thepeople on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, while separation will lead to disaster.

He urged the returned overseas China to adhere to the principle of "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems", build up a cross-strait bridge based on common cultural traditions, national feelings and state interests, push forward personnel, economic and cultural communications across the Taiwan Strait, firmly oppose to seperatist activities in any form in an effort torealize the eventual reunification of the motherland at an early date.

Wang hoped returned overseas Chinese and their relatives could make new contribution to the spreading of Chinese culture, saying that they should try their best to introduce traditional Chinese culture to overseas lands through various means of international exchanges.

He hoped returned overseas Chinese and their relatives could make new achievements in promoting friendship between Chinese people and the people all over the world by introducing China's remarkable achievements in reform and opening-up drive and the country's modernization course.

He urged governments and Party committees at all levels to safeguard rights of returned overseas Chinese and their relatives in accordance with relevant laws, regulations and policies and to resolve their difficulties whenever in need.

He also urged overseas Chinese to abide by the laws in their residing countries, respect social and ethinic customs, live with people of their residing countries in a freindly way in an effort to enhance the friendship between the Chinese people and people all over the world.

Lin Zhaoshu, president of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese reviewed the work of the sixth committee of the federation and set the guiding principles and main goals for the federation in the next five years.

The four-day meeting will also be used as a forum to discuss the Constitution of the federation and elect a new committee.

There are tens of millions of overseas Chinese around the world and more than 30 million overseas Chinese and their relatives have returned home.

They have played an important role in China's reform and opening process. Their investment accounts for more than 70 per cent of China's foreign investment.

"Their enthusiasm to come back and invest in the motherland will surely benefit economic development and the federation has shown earnest concern to help solve their practical difficulties and problems," said Lin.

He said he would like to see more overseas Chinese investment flocking to northeastern and western China.

He also encouraged Chinese students abroad to return to serve the country at a time of intense international competition.

He called on the federation and its local branches to attach importance to the legal rights of returned overseas Chinese and their relatives by popularizing regulations issued by the State Council which took effect July 1.

The meeting, attended by about 1,000 delegates from home and abroad, also honored ten returned overseas Chinese who have made outstanding contributions in various fields, including Dr Zhong Nanshan, a prestigious expert on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) from South China's Guangdong Province.

The National Congress of Returned Overseas Chinese and Their Relatives was first held in 1956. In 1984 a decision was made to hold the meeting every five years.

By People's Daily Online