China News Service, Beijing, January 30 (Reporter Ran Wenjuan) Since January 2021, the protection of the rights and interests of overseas Chinese in China has reached a new level.

On January 27, the 25th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th Sichuan Provincial People's Congress revised and passed the "Regulations on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Overseas Chinese in Sichuan Province", which will come into effect on the date of promulgation.

Hainan Province also officially implemented the "Regulations on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Overseas Chinese in Hainan Province" on January 1.

The puzzle of Chinese local legislation to protect overseas Chinese is becoming more and more perfect.

　　As the number of overseas Chinese continues to increase and exchanges with China have become closer, their demands for their own rights and interests have become increasingly diverse.

Protecting the rights and interests of overseas Chinese through legislation is not only the expectation of the majority of overseas Chinese, but also the focus of long-term promotion by the overseas Chinese affairs department.

　　A review of the regulations on the protection of the rights and interests of overseas Chinese in Sichuan and Hainan found that both places are advancing with the times in their legislation, which meets the actual needs of protecting the rights and interests of overseas Chinese and pays attention to the comprehensiveness of rights protection.

Regarding the issue of identity certification that overseas Chinese are generally concerned about, both places have made it clear that when overseas Chinese are handling financial, education, medical, transportation, social insurance, property registration and other matters, they can prove their identity with their valid Chinese passport.

The rights and interests of overseas Chinese in social security, education, childbirth, donation, property, investment and entrepreneurship, etc. are all specified in the regulations.

　　In addition, the regulations on the protection of the rights and interests of overseas Chinese in the two places also reflect the characteristics of serving local economic and social development.

The "Regulations on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Overseas Chinese in Sichuan Province" stipulate that overseas Chinese are encouraged and supported to invest and start businesses in this province. Overseas Chinese investment enterprises that have been approved and registered enjoy various preferential treatments that the state and Sichuan Province encourage foreign investment.

The "Regulations on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Overseas Chinese in Hainan Province" encourage and support overseas Chinese to participate in the construction of Hainan's tourism, modern service, high-tech and other industries and key industrial parks.

　　In fact, the promulgation of regulations in Sichuan and Hainan is a microcosm of Chinese governments at all levels strengthening the rule of law for overseas Chinese affairs and effectively safeguarding the interests of overseas Chinese.

A review found that during China's "13th Five-Year Plan" period, many places explored legislation to protect overseas Chinese, and local regulations were intensively promulgated.

　　In October 2015, China's first provincial-level local regulation to protect the rights and interests of overseas Chinese-the "Regulations on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Overseas Chinese in Guangdong Province" was implemented.

Since then, Fujian, Hubei, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Hainan and other places have successively promulgated regulations.

The Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People's Congress has also incorporated the "Regulations on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Overseas Chinese in Beijing" into the 2020 demonstration project.

　　National legislation on the rights and interests of overseas Chinese is also in progress. In 2015 and 2016, the State Council's legislative work plan listed the formulation of a law on the protection of the rights and interests of overseas Chinese as a research project, and many departments carried out basic work such as research and demonstration. In June 2018, the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress announced the "Opinions and Recommendations on the Report on the Protection of the Rights and Interests of Overseas Chinese". In October 2020, Bai Ma Chilin, vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, pointed out at the symposium that the construction of the rule of law for overseas Chinese affairs in the new era needs to be improved and strengthened. The legal system for the protection of the rights and interests of returned overseas Chinese and relatives must be further improved, and the implementation of laws and regulations related to overseas Chinese must be strengthened. Supervision. (Finish)