Friday, September 26, 2008

Association urged to promote friendship with overseas Chinese

A senior Chinese leader on Friday urged the China Overseas Friendship Association to continue making efforts towards uniting overseas Chinese through strengthening communication, increasing friendship and promoting cooperation.

The COFA should become an organizer, participant and promoter of friendship with Chinese compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and foreign countries and regions, said Jia Qinglin, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference , at the plenary session of the COFA board of directors.

Jia, who is also a member of the Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China Central Committee Political Bureau, congratulated the opening of the session on behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council.

He called the association an effective platform for promoting the great consolidation and alliance of all Chinese.

He urged the body to make it its main task to firmly struggle against all kinds of separatist forces under the new situation. Efforts should be made to bring into full play the role of leaders of overseas Chinese groups, try to guide them to support the nation, and form a powerful joint force among Chinese at home and overseas, to safeguard national unity and unification.

In his speech, Jia recalled the historic changes in China over the past 30 years, mentioning rise in economic strength, comprehensive national power and the living standards of the people.

He hailed the success in fighting the severe winter earlier this year and the deadly May 12 earthquake, as well as the hosting of the Beijing Olympic and Paralympic Games and the launch of the Shenzhou-7 spacecraft.

All these events will greatly enhance the international status and image of China and increase the pride and confidence of Chinese at home and overseas, he stressed.

Source: Xinhua

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