By Staf Reporter Zhang Yan

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Fujian， Homeland of Overseas Chinese Interview with Fujian Returned Overseas Chinese Federation Chairperson Wang Yajun

By Staf Reporter Zhang Yan

As one of the famous sources of overseas Chinese， Fujian boasts advantage in attracting overseas Chinese investment. While China is working hard to promote the construction of the Silk Road Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road， what is Fujian doing in utilizing the role of local returned overseas Chinese？ With this in mind， this reporter interviewed Wang Yajun， Chairperson of the Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese of Fujian Province.

CHINA REPORT: Fujian is one of the main ancestral homes of overseas Chinese， hence its unique advantage in terms of overseas Chinese resources. Could you please explain the major felds where they invest？

WANG YAJUN: Fujian is the second largest source of overseas Chinese， who play a unique role in its economic and social development. Since the overseas Chinese in Singapore set up their Inhwa Tile Factory in Xiamen in 1982，F(xiàn)ujian has seen construction of a large group of businesses with investment from overseas Chinese， including the Rongqiao Group， TPV Computer， and Fuyao Glass.

There is also a change in the investment fields. They used to invest in businesses engaged in processing with supplied materials，samples and parts and components， and compensation trade. Now， it is the service industry， science and technology development. Nowadays， more and more overseas Chinese invest in the strategic new industries of bio-medicine， new energy vehicles， fnance，education and training，as well as the construction of ports and other infrastructure facilities. Taking advantage of the development of the capital market， they have embarked on the road of capital operation. The period since 2013 has seen increased proportion of overseas Chinese investment in new and high technology and infrastructure. The service industry has become a new hot spot covering， among others， business， logistics， education， medical treatment， consulting， where overseas Chinese investment is concentrated.

CHINA REPORT: What is the proportion of overseas Chinese in foreign investment in Fujian？ What role does it play in the economic and social development in Fujian？

WANG YAJUN: Since the initiation of the reform and opening up policy in late 1978，F(xiàn)ujian has introduced foreign investment amounting to some $100 billion， some 80 percent of which comes from overseas Chinese，making an indelible contribution to Fujian's socio-economic development in the following ways:

Promoting the rapid development of private economy. In the early period of the reform and opening up， foreign businesses hesitated as to whether they should invest in Fujian because of the lack of good rules and regulations，and sound market environment， plus poor infrastructure. Overseas Chinese business people cherish a special love for the motherland and their hometown as well， and are also very familiar with the customs and habits of their ancestral hometown. Blessed with their knowledge about cooperation with international capital and international trade， they quickly sought development in Fujian， and， gradually developed strong interest in foreign capital and non-governmental capital， and to foreign investment and private capital， a move which led to the vigorous development of private businesses in Fujian. A case in point are those private businesses in Quanzhou， which developed with “the extra buildings， extra money and extra labor power” of overseas Chinese - becoming the cradle of private business entrepreneurs.

Promoting the rapid growth of export-oriented economy. Overseas Chinese businesses，exploiting their worldwide network advantage，help promote our foreign trade and two-way investment. When Fujian businesses gainedeconomic weight， they help them invest overseas. In this way， they play an increasingly important role in helping us develop foreign trade and economic cooperation.

On October 9，2015， the Eighth World Fujian Folks Reunion opened in Xiamen， Fujian Province.

Promoting the transformation and upgrading of the real economy. Overseas Chinese businesses introduced advanced technology through direct investment to fll the technological gaps in certain industries， a move which accelerates local industrial transformation and upgrading， and directly promotes the optimization of the provincial economic structure. As overseas Chinese enterprises generally have advanced experience in production management，quality control， marketing and after-sales service concept， personnel management， and financial management and accounting， they help create a group of modern management personnel to promote the development and upgrading of the real economy. Technologically advanced equipment and managerial expertise overseas Chinese businesses introduced produced a “spillover” efect - they attract related businesses in joint production. This plays an exemplary role in cooperation for others to emulate and produces a large number of technical and managerial personnel， which， in turn，promotes overall technological progress and industrial upgrading.

CHINA REPORT: When China is working hard to promote the Belt and Road Initiative，how should Fujian make the most of its overseas Chinese resources to promote the project？WANG YAJUN: Fujian is a major provincial home to 5.3 million returned overseas Chinese and 15.8 million still living in other parts of the world. It is no exaggeration to say that wherever there is seawater and sunshine， there are people of Fujian origin. They possess strong economic power and love their home land，combining to become precious resources and ofering unique advantages. We will continue to guide the majority of overseas Chinese，whether returned or still living overseas， to take an active part in， support and service the construction of the Fujian Belt and Road Core Area.

Publicizing the Belt and Road Initiative. We will work hard to publicize the Belt and Road Initiative， its connotations and goals along the Maritime Silk Road， and the eforts Fujian will make to build the Maritime Silk Road Core Area， with a view to turning the China Dream and Fujian Dream into one for all countries along the route.

Promoting the peaceful development and win-win cooperation of countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Overseas Chinese rooted in Fujian， inheriting and carrying forward the fine traditions of the Chinese culture， and especially the “root culture” and“harmonious culture”， endeavor to promote cultural exchanges and cooperation between Fujian and countries along the Maritime Silk Road. Taking advantage of the overseas Fujian communities and folks， who carry out folk diplomacy， which serves to promote ofcial ties. Overseas Chinese are good in helping clear up doubts in the political feld. Eforts have therefore been made to play the most part of their role in economic and trade cooperation， and in serving as a “matchmaker” in regional cooperation and cultural exchange. With policies communication and contact platform created，we develop the “walking economy” geared to promote peaceful common development of various countries.

Participating in the construction of the Fujian Belt and Road Core Area. Eforts have been made to fully tap the potentials of local resources and the bridging role of overseas Chinese， and guide the overseas Chinese to take part in the construction of the Fujian Belt and Road Core Area with overseas Chinese capital used first to promote trade - the purpose is to promote construction of the “free trade area” in Fujian to promote the interoperability of countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. While seeking capital from overseas， eforts are being made to help Fujian products and Fujian businesses to go global，and help overseas Chinese investors with needed accommodation of funds， trade channels and related facilities to expand cross-border cooperation.

Taking part in construction of the “Fujian on the Sea” and “Overseas Fujian”. Fujian covers a land area of 121，400 sq km as well as a sea area of 136，300 sq km. It is working hard to make full use of overseas Chinese resources in an effort to strengthen cooperation with various countries for the joint development of marine resources， and vigorous development of aquaculture， offshore fishing and other new economic growth points. This is part of the project known as “Fujian on the Sea”. In the meantime， efforts are made to vigorously support the Fujian people in their efort to seek economic development abroad， thus forming“Overseas Fujian” economies to support the development of modern Fujian.

On April 30， 2015， in an interview with local media，Wang Yajun indicated that the service industry， i.e.，commerce， logistics， education， medicine and consultancy， has become the new hot sector for overseas Chinese investment.

CHINA REPORT: What policies and measures has Fujian taken to strengthen ties with overseas Chinese and bring into full play their active role？

WAN YAJUN: First of all， we have opened “the Five Areas of Fujian” to overseas Chinese， i.e.，F(xiàn)ujian Ecological Civilization Demonstration Area， 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Core Area， Pingtan Comprehensive Experimental Zone， Fujian Free Trade Area and Fuzhou New Area. The five areas combine well together to offer historical opportunities for development. Overseas Chinese have easy access to all the policies and measures of the fve areas. Fujian will soon introduce rules and regulations geared to protect the legal rights and interests of overseas Chinese and for greater convenience in their work and life.

The second step is establishment of“the Fujian Provincial Overseas Chinese Industry Fund”. In September 2014， the Fujian Provincial Council for the Promotion of International Trade， the Fujian Provincial Federation of Overseas Chinese， and the Fujian Returned Overseas Chinese Federation joined hands with overseas Chinese societies and businesses to establish “the Fujian Provincial Overseas Chinese Industry Fund” with a view to creating an excellent platform for the introduction of foreign and overseas Chinese investment， project screening， assessment， and overseas promotion. This platform makes it possible for overseas Chinese to obtain details about related policies， have access to legal services and go through project evaluation and assessment. This Fund will provide low-cost fnancial support for major projects undertaken with overseas Chinese investment in Fujian，such as infrastructure， economic entities and projects for basic livelihood. Tis constitutes a new way to introduce more foreign capital. By giving full play to the advantages with regard to overseas Chinese resources， Fujian will exploit the Fund with a view to gathering overseas Chinese capital for the construction of the Fujian Belt and Road Core Area.

Te third step is the the Online Silk Road Alliance and Council. The Fujian Returned Overseas Chinese Federation took the lead insetting up the Alliance and Council. As the network of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Core Area created jointly by overseas Chinese societies with root in Fujian and those in other parts of the world， it will work to guarantee smooth communication in terms of policies，facilities， trade channels， capital and， human relationship. It will help promote the construction of the Fujian Belt and Road Core Area.

The fourth step involves policies adopted to support the construction of the Fujian Belt and Road Core Area. Fujian is working hard to win national fnancial support and explore the establishment of an enterprise overseas investment guarantee mechanism. In fnancial policy， we strive to win funding support from national financial institutions. Efforts will be made to establish a branch of the Silk Road Fund， with a view to expanding the scope and orientation of investment in modern blue water industry in the province. Fujian is also working to win national support for the establishment of the Fujian Overseas Chinese Business Bank and float bonds in foreign countries or offshore markets. With regard

CHINA REPORT: ASEAN is where overseas Chinese are mainly concentrated. When implementing the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative， how should Fujian do better in using the overseas Chinese resources for the construction of the Fujian Maritime Silk Road Core Area and， on this basis， make contribution to improved China-ASEAN relations？

WANG YAJUN: ASEAN is important for Fujian in the Belt and Road Initiative， and also the most important area in developing our foreign economic and trade relations，and promote industrial cooperation. Fujian has some 15.8 million people working and residing in foreign countries， more than 12 million people or about 80 percent of them in Southeast Asia. Most of these people have become an important force making contribution to the socio-economic development of the countries where they reside. A considerable part of the overseas Chinese community have melted into the mainstream society，enjoying greater influence in businesses. Both Fujian and ASEAN are geographically close， enjoying much in common， such as customs and culture. Tey maintain close contacts， a natural boon for them to getting closer.

The first step is to guide overseas Chinese，in their capacity of “folk diplomats”， to publicize the spirit and culture of the Maritime Silk Road， speak well of their hometown and Fujian at large so as to make it better known in ASEAN； and， cashing in on their contacts， capital，technology and their bridge role， promote economic and cultural exchange and cooperation between Fujian and ASEAN. Efforts will be made to try to set up headquarters of a number of overseas Chinese businesses and the overseas Chinese investment area. Giving full play to the role of overseas Chinese as bridges between Fujian and overseas economies， closer ties will be sought between the Fujian economy and the international market by enhancing the level of economic internationalization and open-type economic development.

Te second step is to strengthen the communication and coordination mechanism indispensable for Fujian and ASEAN government institutions， overseas Chinese societies and trades， promote construction of the China-ASEAN Maritime Cooperation Fund projects. Fujian will rely on overseas Chinese and strengthened official cooperation of ASEAN States in efort to promote the implementation of the Maritime Silk Road Initiative.

The third step is to build platforms for strengthened exchange with overseas Chinese societies， businesses and consortium of countries and regions along the Maritime Silk Road. By relying on the resources of overseas Chinese， Fujian will redouble its efforts to promote the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Core Area and strengthen the interconnection with countries and regions along the way.

overseas Chinese now act as “civilian diplomats" in the Chinese effort to promote the spirit and culture of the Maritime Silk Road. With their overseas relationship and capital， they help promote two-way cultural and economic exchanges and cooperation on a win-win basis. to the open policy， Fujian will try to be a pilot region charged with opening foreign exchange management policies， improving immigration management and approval of foreign exchange management procedures， strengthening consular protection work， and vigorously cultivating foreign economic and trade enterprises and export-oriented enterprises. For the construction of the Maritime Silk Road， Fujian seeks to cultivate and introduce the necessary talents， including export-oriented and compound talents， especially senior management personnel for enterprises； it plans to establish a multinational management personnel training center and strengthen two-way personnel exchanges at home and abroad.