Overseas Hainanese meet in Hainan to deepen ties and boost development

More than 2,000 overseas Hainanese people from 28 countries and regions gathered in Sanya on Thursday for a biennial congress to deepen friendship, enhance cohesion and common development.

The 16th World Congress of the International Federation of Hainan Associations at the coastal city at the southern tip of Hainan Island also hosted over 1,200 representatives of local residents.

With daring and pioneering spirit, overseas Hainanese have not only made great achievements in their countries of residence, but also devoted their energy and funds to their hometown, said Shen Xiaoming, governor of Hainan, at the opening ceremony.

He said Hainan currently has more than 1,500 companies with about 20 billion yuan investment from overseas Hainanese. In the meantime, they have also donated more than 1 billion yuan to support undertakings in public health, education, culture and rural transportation in the tropical island province.

The governor briefed the overseas folks the latest development in Hainan and said overseas Hainanese people, in total 3.9 million and living in more than 50 countries and regions worldwide, are important links between Hainan and the world and also an important force in the construction of Hainan Free Trade Port.

"We sincerely invite overseas Hainanese to make investment and develop business in their hometown and share the new opportunities in developing Hainan Free Trade Port," said the governor.

The three-day congress has a rich and colorful agenda, including a welcome party, a grand congress, a round-table meeting of overseas Chinese leaders of Hainan origin, a world forum for youth with Hainan origin and a maritime Silk Road cultural and economic forum to introduce Hainan's new policies and discuss about the opportunities for cooperation and innovative businesses in Hainan.

Six special promotion sessions will be held to help inform overseas Hainanese about investment projects in major Hainan FTZ demonstration areas such as the Haikou Jiangdong New District, Sanya Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City, Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone, Yangpu Economic Development Zone and Hainan Resprt Software Community.

Root-tracing visits for overseas Hainanese participants have also been arranged to Haikou, Sanya, Danzhou, Wenchang, Qionghai and Wanning, places well known as hometowns for overseas Chinese in Hainan.