On October 12, 2026, the commemorative conference marking the 70th anniversary of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC) was held in Beijing. Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Wang Huning attended the meeting and delivered a speech. He also met with all the delegates attending the meeting and posed for a group photo with them.

Wang Huning stated that affairs relating to overseas Chinese are a long-term strategic undertaking of the Party and the state. General Secretary Xi Jinping attaches great importance to serving returned overseas Chinese and their family members, as well as overseas Chinese, and has made important statements and issued important instructions on affairs relating to overseas Chinese in the new era and on the new journey. He has provided profound answers to and promoted solutions to a series of directional, fundamental and strategic issues concerning the development of affairs relating to overseas Chinese. We must study and fully understand General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important requirements and implement them in full, firmly grasping the direction and tasks of affairs relating to overseas Chinese.

Wang Huning said that the ACFROC is a people’s organization led by the CPC, serving as a bridge linking the Party and the government with returned overseas Chinese, their relatives and overseas Chinese nationals. Over the past 70 years, the ACFROC has remained committed to caring for overseas Chinese, fulfilling its responsibilities to them, and delivering tangible benefits to them, and it has united and guided overseas Chinese in playing a unique role in advancing the cause of the Party and the state. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the ACFROC has taken Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as its guide, implemented General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important statements on affairs relating to overseas Chinese and the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee, and remained committed to the theme of rallying strength and working together to realize and share the Chinese Dream. It has integrated service to the overall interests of the country with service to overseas Chinese, uniting and mobilizing them to make positive contributions to promoting China’s economic and social development, advancing national reunification, preserving and promoting Chinese culture, and strengthening exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries.

Wang Huning noted that the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) is crucial to basically realizing socialist modernization, and affairs relating to overseas Chinese face new circumstances and tasks. He expressed the hope that the ACFROC would remain mindful of the need to carry forward its fine traditions, ensuring that the “spirit of overseas Chinese” is passed down from generation to generation; keep in mind the importance of fostering a deep sense of attachment to the country and the family, guiding overseas Chinese to strengthen their Chinese identity and cultural roots; remember the need to leverage its unique strengths, enabling work related to overseas Chinese to better serve the country’s overall development; and bear in mind the call to make greater contributions, uniting and guiding overseas Chinese in contributing to building China into a modern socialist country in all respects and advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts. He stressed the need to uphold the CPC’s overall leadership over the work of the ACFROC, fully implement the Party’s policies on affairs relating to overseas Chinese, and promote high-quality development of the cause of the ACFROC. He also asked Party committees and governments at all levels to support the federations of returned overseas Chinese in carrying out their work in accordance with the law and their charters, and provide strong guarantees for them to fulfill their various functions.

Wang Yi, Li Ganjie, He Wei, Wu Zhenglong and Xian Hui attended the event.

At the meeting, Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group and Vice Chairman of the All-China Federation of Trade Unions Lu Zhiyuan delivered congratulatory remarks on behalf of the people’s organizations. Secretary of the Leading Party Members Group and Chairman of the ACFROC Wang Linggui delivered a speech, and Lin Dong, a representative of the overseas Chinese community, spoke at the meeting.

About 770 people attended the conference, including officials from relevant central Party and state organs and representatives of overseas Chinese communities at home and abroad.