By Xinhua
Beijing : Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday said overseas Chinese can contribute more to the country’s modernisation and reunification process.
It is important to pool the wisdom of overseas Chinese in this regard, Hu said while joining a panel discussion of political advisors from the China Zhi Gong Party and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.
The members of the national committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are in Beijing to attend the top advisory body’s annual session.
Overseas Chinese can help publicise Chinese culture and enhance the understanding and bolster friendship between the Chinese and the peoples of other countries, the president said.
On the other hand, governments at various levels should make sincere efforts to safeguard the interests of overseas Chinese and those having returned from abroad, Hu said.
Statistics from the foreign ministry show that by August, 2007 about 675,000 Chinese worked overseas, and more than 10,000 Chinese enterprises had set up business in foreign countries.
Jia Qinglin, chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, joined the panel discussion.