China News Agency, Beijing, September 30th: Why did Chen Jiageng and Situ Meitang participate in the founding ceremony 73 years ago?
——Interview with Zhang Xiuming, Deputy Director of the Institute of Overseas Chinese in China
China News Agency reporter Xu Wenxin
On October 1, 1949, representatives of overseas Chinese arrived in Beijing thousands of miles to participate in the founding ceremony.
Among these representatives, there are Situ Meitang who was invited in his old age, Chen Jiageng who went to the appointment with bumps all the way, and Yi Meihou who went north under a pseudonym on the way... For them, going to the "appointment for the founding of the country" not only means breaking through the obstacles on the way back to China , but also represents giving up the superior life overseas and devotes itself to the cause of building a new China.
Why invite overseas Chinese to participate in the founding ceremony?
Where does the long-lasting friendship between overseas Chinese and China come from?
Recently, Zhang Xiuming, deputy director of the Institute of Overseas Chinese in China, accepted an exclusive interview with China News Agency "Dongxiwen", telling the "Chinese story" behind the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China.
She said that in the various historical periods of revolution, construction and reform, overseas Chinese have always played a unique role in breathing with the motherland, sharing destiny and heart to heart.
The following is a summary of the interview transcript:
Innocent overseas Chinese stand together through thick and thin
China News Agency reporter: Why do you want to invite overseas Chinese to participate in the founding ceremony?
Zhang Xiuming:
At the founding ceremony of the People's Republic of China 73 years ago, representatives of overseas Chinese climbed the Tiananmen Gate to witness the glorious moment of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
The overseas Chinese, known as "overseas orphans", have since then had a strong motherland as their backing, and they rejoiced at the founding of New China.
After the victory of the Anti-Japanese War, China faced a choice between two paths and two fates.
At the critical moment of where to go, overseas Chinese firmly supported the Communist Party of China and chose New China.
In 1948, the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China issued the "May Day Slogan", calling for the convening of the Political Consultative Conference and the establishment of a democratic coalition government, and many overseas Chinese groups responded in succession.
In 1949, Mao Zedong called Tan Kah Kee and Situ Meitang and invited them to return to China on behalf of overseas Chinese to discuss the grand plan of building the country.
The overseas Chinese, together with the people of the whole country, ushered in the dawn of the new China.
In 2021, the theatrical performance "The Great Journey" to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China will be held in the National Stadium.
The picture shows the dance "Founding Ceremony".
Photo by China News Agency reporter Han Haidan
China News Service reporter: In modern times, what contributions have overseas Chinese made to the critical juncture of the Chinese nation's life and death?
Zhang Xiuming: In
modern history, overseas Chinese had two patriotic upsurges, one was the Revolution of 1911, and the other was the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression.
Mr. Sun Yat-sen called "the overseas Chinese are the mother of the revolution", which is because the overseas Chinese made various contributions to the Revolution of 1911.
For example, most of the first members of the revolutionary organizations Xingzhong Association and China Alliance Association were overseas Chinese; Sun Yat-sen’s overseas revolutionary activities and military salaries were mostly donated by overseas Chinese; overseas Chinese were also the backbone of many armed uprisings, and 31 of the 72 martyrs in Huanghuagang were overseas Chinese.
During the Anti-Japanese War, overseas Chinese were an important force in the anti-Japanese national united front.
On the one hand, overseas Chinese actively lost money to help the war and contributed a lot.
The total amount of donations from overseas Chinese reached more than 1.3 billion yuan; the purchase of national salvation bonds was more than 1.1 billion yuan, accounting for about 1/3 of the total number of public bonds issued by the National Government; overseas remittances reached more than 9.5 billion yuan, accounting for a large part of China's military spending at that time.
On the other hand, overseas Chinese returned to work in China and helped the motherland in the war of resistance in terms of manpower.
The most representative is that more than 3,000 Nanqiao mechanic returned to China to help the motherland in the war of resistance.
In addition, overseas Chinese also actively safeguarded the overall situation of the motherland's war of resistance and opposed surrender and split. Tan Kah Kee put forward a proposal for the war of resistance that "the enemy has not left the country foreword and is a traitor". He also led the overseas Chinese in Nanyang to return to China to return to the country for inspection, especially the inspection of Yan'an. He gained his confidence in the victory of the War of Resistance and decided that "China's hope lies in Yan'an", and since then he has embarked on the road of cooperation with the CCP.
Dare to be the first to return to the homeland
China News Agency reporter: At the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, there was a lot of waste waiting to be rebuilt. Overseas Chinese returned to their homeland and devoted themselves to construction regardless of fame and fortune. What role has the returned overseas Chinese played in the construction of various undertakings in China?
Zhang Xiuming:
After the founding of New China, overseas Chinese rejoiced and returned to China to participate in socialist construction, setting off a wave of returning to China, especially overseas students represented by Qian Xuesen and Hua Luogeng who gave up the favorable living conditions in the West and returned to China, many of whom became New China Leaders in various disciplines and fields.
For example, among the 23 scientific and technological experts who have made outstanding contributions to the development of "two bombs and one satellite" in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1999, 21 have experience in studying abroad.
In terms of Sino-foreign exchanges, many returned overseas Chinese take advantage of their familiarity with the local language and act as a bridge.
In the sports world, returned overseas students and sports talents from Southeast Asia have played an important role in the development of competitive sports in New China. Many famous teachers in badminton and table tennis, such as Wang Wenjiao, Tang Xianhu, Hou Jiachang, and Lin Huiqing, are all returned overseas Chinese from Indonesia.
Co-sponsored by the National Museum of China and the State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense, "Collaborative Innovation and Self-Reliance - Spiritual Exhibition of "Two Bombs and One Star".
Photo by Chen Xiaogen issued by China News Agency
China News Service reporter: In 1981, the CP Group, a subsidiary of Thai Chinese businessman Xie Guomin, obtained the Shenzhen No. 0001 Sino-foreign joint venture business license. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China 73 years ago, especially since the reform and opening up, overseas Chinese businessmen have been the first batch of people who "eat crabs" to invest and start businesses in China. What role do Chinese businessmen play in China's economic development?
Zhang Xiuming:
After the founding of New China, overseas Chinese businessmen set up investment companies and enterprises in China to invest and start businesses in China to help the country's economic development.
After the reform and opening up, overseas Chinese businessmen have become the forerunners and new force of China's absorption of foreign investment, witnesses, participants and contributors to the reform and opening up.
"The reform and opening up has a share of the credit of overseas Chinese." According to incomplete statistics, by the end of 2021, China's accumulated foreign capital utilization amounted to 2.6 trillion US dollars.
Among them, Chinese investment accounts for more than 60% of China's foreign investment.
Chinese businessmen's investment in China has also created many "bests" and "firsts", and took the lead in introducing many advanced business concepts and methods into China.
Chia Tai Group's booth at the Inner Mongolia International Agricultural Expo.
Photo by China News Agency reporter Liu Wenhua
Unicom China and foreign countries join hands to realize the dream
China News Service: After Beijing's successful bid for the Olympic Games, 350,000 overseas Chinese and compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan donated 930 million yuan (RMB, the same below) to build the National Aquatics Center "Water Cube". For a long time, the majority of overseas Chinese have been enthusiastic about public welfare and charity. What contributions have they made to China's philanthropy?
Zhang Xiuming:
Overseas Chinese have always been adhering to the fine tradition and dedication of one side in difficulty and all sides to help, blood is thicker than water, and great love knows no bounds, and are enthusiastic about public welfare and charity.
According to incomplete statistics, since the reform and opening up, overseas Chinese, Hong Kong and Macao compatriots have donated more than 116.4 billion yuan to China's public welfare undertakings, showing the characteristics of continuous increase in donation enthusiasm and amount, and continuous expansion of donation areas and fields.
For example, donations to the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008 exceeded 1.3 billion yuan; in 2020, donations to fight the new crown pneumonia epidemic exceeded 4.4 billion yuan; the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics also actively participated in it. , overseas Chinese businessmen and overseas Chinese enterprises and organizations of overseas Chinese federations at all levels actively responded to the initiative of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese to "donate to build the Overseas Chinese Ice and Snow Museum" and collect related exhibition collections, donating a total of 160 million yuan to build the Overseas Chinese Ice and Snow Museum in Chongli, Hebei.
In addition, as in the field of investment, in the field of public welfare and charity, overseas Chinese also pioneered the trend and played a unique role in promoting the development of China's philanthropy.
The interior of Chongli Overseas Chinese Ice and Snow Museum.
Photo courtesy of Chongli Overseas Chinese Ice and Snow Museum
China News Service reporter: In the future, how can China better unite the hearts and minds of overseas Chinese? How will overseas Chinese and overseas Chinese help the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation?
Zhang Xiuming:
As a transnational group living in two societies and spanning multiple civilizations, overseas Chinese have always been a unique resource that China's economic and social development and foreign exchanges can rely on.
In the journey of realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, we should better unite the hearts of overseas Chinese and give full play to the strength of overseas Chinese.
On the one hand, we must pay close attention to the new changes in the situation of overseas Chinese, understand the new challenges faced by overseas Chinese in their survival and development, listen to their voices, respond to their demands, and better safeguard their rights and interests and serve overseas Chinese.
On the other hand, it is necessary to make better use of the advantages of overseas Chinese in many aspects, such as large number of high-level talents, extensive business network, strong economic strength, and China and foreign countries.
First of all, in terms of the "Belt and Road" construction, overseas Chinese are the pioneers and builders of the "Silk Road" in history.
They thrive in countries and regions along the "Belt and Road", and play a unique role in Sino-foreign economic, trade and cultural exchanges.
Second, the proportion of overseas Chinese who are engaged in business is high, and the Chinese businessmen have strong economic strength. They have made great contributions to the economic and social development of their localities, especially in Southeast Asia and other places. After generations of reproduction, they have been deeply integrated into the local area.
Third, culturally, overseas Chinese have the natural advantage of cross-cultural communication.
Overseas Chinese are not only proficient in Chinese and the language of the host country, but also understand the differences between Chinese and foreign cultures. They have irreplaceable advantages in spreading Chinese culture, telling Chinese stories well, promoting people-to-people exchanges, and promoting mutual trust between Chinese and foreign people.
The overseas Chinese themselves are symbols of Chinese culture and China's national image. They are the most direct carriers for local people to know China and understand China. They are also the main body of cross-cultural communication and an important force in spreading Chinese culture.
Finally, overseas Chinese are bridges and bonds of friendly exchanges between China and foreign countries, and have a unique role in promoting friendly exchanges between China and foreign countries.
(Finish)
Interviewee Profile:
Zhang Xiuming, deputy director of the Chinese Overseas Chinese Research Institute, vice president and secretary general of the Chinese Overseas Chinese Historical Society, and editor-in-chief of the core journal "Research on Overseas Chinese History".
The main research directions are overseas Chinese affairs policy, comparative study of international immigration, new immigrants and international students.
Participated in a number of national social science fund projects.
His representative works in recent years include: "The Latest Development and Characteristics of International Migration: An Analysis of the Concepts of International Migration and Overseas Chinese", "New Changes in the Relationship between Overseas Chinese and China in the 21st Century", "Definition and Analysis of Related Concepts of Overseas Chinese", "Overseas Chinese" The Advantages and Paths of Chinese Participating in the Construction of the “Belt and Road””, etc.
He is also an academic member of the Chinese Business Research Center of Tsinghua University, a member of the Party History Research and Party Affairs Working Committee of the Zhigong Party Central Committee, and an expert of the Capital United Front Concentric Service Group.