The 6th Xiamen Overseas Friendship Association (XOFA) Congress was held on September 6. The leadership of its 6th Council was elected, and Wang Xuemin, member of the Standing Committee of Xiamen Municipal CPC Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department, was elected as the 6th XOFA Chair.
Zhang Yigong, Deputy Secretary of Xiamen Municipal CPC Committee, Huang Jinfa, Executive Deputy Minister of the United Front Work Department of Fujian Provincial CPC Committee and Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of Fujian Province and other officials attended the congress. It was also attended online and offline by more than 600 XOFA members from more than 70 countries.
Wang Xuemin delivered a speech on behalf of the leadership of the new council. She stressed the importance of holding high the banner of patriotism, strengthening friendship, and making more friends to break new grounds in the work of the XOFA. According to the speech, the XOFA will give full play to its advantages, improve cohesion, and swell the ranks of patriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan. She also said the XOFA will seize opportunities, seek common development, serve as a good “booster” for Xiamen’s high-quality development, and try to be a trustworthy “warm home”.
Huang Jinfa hoped that the XOFA would continue to carry forward the Fujian spirit of “loving the country, loving the hometown, accepting all rivers, being benevolent and charitable, and daring to fight to win”, and would continue to care and support the development of Xiamen as always. It is hoped that all walks of society would continue to care about and cherish the work of the XOFA. The city of Xiamen, as a special economic zone, is expected to strive for the common cause of overseas friendship with the courage of the forerunner and the faith of Xiamen University’s founder Tan Kah Kee. He also hoped that with the platform of the XOFA the development of both Fujian and Western Taiwan Straits Economic Zone would be better served, and more contributions would be made for the reunification of the motherland and the Chinese dream of great rejuvenation.
Zhang Yigong said that the XOFA is building an effective platform for promoting non-governmental exchanges between Xiamen and overseas. It is helping publicize China’s reform and opening up policies and introduce Xiamen’s investment environment and development situation. It plays a major role in uniting and mobilizing the majority of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese to actively participate in the development of Xiamen Special Economic Zone, making great contributions to the peaceful reunification of the motherland as a bridge of communication and friendship. It is hoped that the XOFA would actively perform its duties and fulfill its responsibilities, and unite the Chinese at home and abroad in effort for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The XOFA should bravely undertake the historical mission, pool together forces, promote the complete reunification of the motherland, and strive to make more progress in its work.
The council members of the 34-year-old XOFA are from 75 countries. The diversity plays a positive role in promoting non-governmental exchanges and cooperation between Xiamen, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots and overseas Chinese. It also promotes the peaceful development of cross-strait relations and the great cause of national reunification. The flexible, inclusive, extensive and comprehensive XOFA has become an important platform in China and abroad to make friends.
