Xu Yousheng: Overseas Chinese are a bridge to propel development of the B&R and the Greater Bay Area

It is the fifth year since the birth of the B&R initiative. As described by Xu Yousheng, Deputy Director of the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee and Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the B&R initiative has transformed from a sketch of an overall outline to a refined painting with concrete, carefully laid out and implemented policies.

Xu noted that some 60 million overseas Chinese are distributed in close to 200 countries and locations around the world. Amongst them, about 40 million have settled in countries and locations along the B&R routes. With a long migration history, profound cultural knowledge, robust financial strengths and wide personal networks, etc. overseas Chinese are a strong force in driving the development of the B&R and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area.

Active interfacing and wide participation by the government and the communities of countries along the B&R routes is crucial in fostering development of the B&R initiative. Xu hoped that compatriots could actively engage themselves in promoting the B&R, including the shared business opportunities, the principles of shared construction, as well as the idea of mutual collaboration for win-win outcomes. He reckoned that overseas Chinese could also work as a matchmaker to help Chinese companies “go out”. They can also be the “bride” and take part in the practical cooperation across various disciplines.

Regarding the synergized development for the B&R and the construction of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Bay Area, Xu believed that overseas Chinese must act like a bridge. Therefore, he supported Hong Kong and Macau to fuse themselves into the bigger picture of China’s development and contribute to the construction of a first-class bay area and world-class city cluster. He commended the overseas Chinese community in Hong Kong for being entrepreneurial and daring in breaking new grounds, while staying close to the fine traditions of their home country. He believed that the overseas Chinese community in Hong Kong can make significant contribution to fully implementing the B&R initiative, in the construction of the Bay Area, and in China’s new round of opening-up.