Xi Jinping Urges Overseas Chinese Unity for Development

Chinese President Xi Jinping has issued important instructions on overseas Chinese affairs, calling for stronger efforts to unite the global Chinese diaspora and harness their contributions to national rejuvenation, economic modernization, and the goal of peaceful reunification. The directive was conveyed at the National Overseas Chinese Affairs Work Conference held in Beijing on July 27–28, 2026, as reported by Xinhua News Agency.

Context and Strategic Significance

The conference, the first national-level gathering dedicated to overseas Chinese work since the post-2018 institutional restructuring, comes at a pivotal moment for China. The year 2026 marks the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030) and the 105th anniversary of the Chinese Communist Party. Just two weeks earlier, Beijing hosted the 11th World Overseas Chinese Communities Conference, which drew more than 400 representatives from 140 countries and territories, underscoring the importance the leadership places on diaspora engagement.

According to official government records, Xi’s instructions emphasized that overseas Chinese work must “better unite the hearts and strength of overseas Chinese” and guide them to “carry forward fine traditions, cultivate deep feelings for the homeland, and actively serve the great cause of national reunification.” The president described overseas Chinese as having made “positive contributions” in driving economic and social development, preserving Chinese culture, and fostering China’s international exchanges since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012.

Key Addresses at the Conference

Wang Huning, a member of the Politburo Standing Committee and Chairman of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, addressed the conference and described overseas Chinese work as “a long-term strategic task of the Party and the state.” A People’s Daily review published via the United Front Work Department quoted Wang as calling for the work to be “comprehensively strengthened” to serve the broader national interest.

Li Ganjie, head of the United Front Work Department, delivered the concluding remarks, stressing the need to fully implement Xi’s directives and to “unwaveringly implement the Party Central Committee’s decisions and arrangements on overseas Chinese work.” Representatives from Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Yunnan, Xinjiang, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education, SASAC (State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission), and the China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese delivered exchange speeches.

The Scale of the Diaspora

China’s overseas Chinese community is one of the largest diaspora networks in the world. Approximately 60 million people of Chinese descent live in nearly 200 countries, while an additional 40 million returned overseas Chinese and their relatives reside within China itself. This vast network represents what the government views as a strategic asset—providing access to capital, technology, commercial networks, and diplomatic channels across the globe.

Implications for National Strategy

Xi’s instructions are consistent with the “grand overseas Chinese work” (大侨务) concept he first developed during his tenure in Fujian province. The vision has since been codified in national policy, including the 15th Five-Year Plan, which states the government will “fully implement the Party’s overseas Chinese policy to better unite the hearts and strength of overseas Chinese.”

CCTV commentary published after the conference framed the directive as a call to action, noting that “the closer we get to the grand goal of national rejuvenation, the more we need to gather the mighty force of unity.” The commentary emphasized the role of cultural heritage, economic integration, and patriotic education in mobilizing the diaspora.

Analysts see several layers of strategic intent behind the intensified focus on overseas Chinese affairs:

Economic development: The 15th Five-Year Plan targets high-quality growth driven by innovation, opening-up, and dual circulation. Overseas Chinese investors, entrepreneurs, and professionals are seen as key conduits for foreign capital, advanced technology, and global market access.

Cultural diplomacy: With growing geopolitical tensions, Beijing views the diaspora as a bridge for cultural exchange and soft power projection. Initiatives such as “Chinese Roots” summer camps and Chinese-language education programs aim to strengthen cultural ties with younger generations abroad.

National reunification: The instructions explicitly call on overseas Chinese to “actively serve the great cause of national unification”—a direct reference to Taiwan. Beijing has long sought to mobilize diaspora communities in lobbying host governments and countering pro-independence narratives.

Reactions from the Community

Reactions from overseas Chinese representatives, as compiled by China Youth Daily, reflected broad support for Xi’s vision. Miao Xiangyang, founder of the Polish Chinese Charity Foundation, recalled Xi’s meeting with representatives of the 10th World Overseas Chinese Communities Conference in 2023, describing the president’s care and concern as a source of inspiration for diaspora engagement in local philanthropy and Sino-European trade.

In Fujian province—one of China’s most historic emigration hubs—local officials pledged to deepen the “grand overseas Chinese” approach. Chen Xiuxiang, deputy secretary of Fuqing and head of its United Front Work Department, said the city would fully implement Xi’s call to “comprehensively implement the Party’s overseas Chinese policy” and strengthen侨务 work to contribute to a strong start for the 15th Five-Year Plan.

What to Watch

The conference signals that overseas Chinese affairs will remain a high priority for Beijing in the 15th Five-Year Plan period. Key developments to monitor include the ongoing legislative process for an Overseas Chinese Rights Protection Law, the expansion of digital service platforms to simplify cross-border bureaucracy for the diaspora, and the deepening integration of overseas Chinese work within the United Front system following the 2018 institutional reforms.

As the Xinhua background article published ahead of the conference noted, Xi has long framed overseas Chinese engagement through his classic formulation: “A united Chinese nation is the root shared by all Chinese at home and abroad; profound Chinese culture is the soul shared by all Chinese at home and abroad; and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation is the dream shared by all Chinese at home and abroad.” The challenge for Beijing will be translating this vision into practical policies that resonate with a diverse, globally dispersed community facing an increasingly complex geopolitical environment.