Chinese President Xi Jinping has emphasized the role of overseas Chinese, calling on them to actively contribute to the unification of the motherland and the promotion of Chinese-style modernization.

According to China's state-run Xinhua News Agency, President Xi stated in recent directives regarding overseas Chinese affairs that the party's policies concerning overseas Chinese must be thoroughly implemented to further rally the hearts and strength of overseas Chinese communities.

He went on to urge overseas and returned Chinese to inherit fine traditions, solidify their patriotism toward the motherland, and leverage their respective strengths to play a greater role, emphasizing that they should actively contribute to the grand cause of national unification and promote solidarity and common development among ethnic Chinese members both at home and abroad.

He added that a mighty strength must be pooled to comprehensively advance the building of a strong nation and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through Chinese-style modernization.

These directives were conveyed at a national meeting on overseas Chinese affairs held in Beijing from July 27 to 28.

Wang Huning, Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and fourth-ranking member of China's political hierarchy, attended the meeting and stated that overseas Chinese affairs are a long-term and strategic undertaking of the party and the state, adding that overseas and returned Chinese must be further united to support and actively participate in the modernization and construction of the motherland.

(Photo: Yonhap News)