On December 1, the Third Overseas Chinese Talent Conference for Development officially opened in Fuzhou, Fujian Province. Hosted by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Fujian Provincial People’s Government, and organized by the Fujian Provincial Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese and the Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government, the conference adopted the permanent theme of “Pooling the Wisdom of Overseas Chinese Talent to Fulfil the Chinese Dream” and the annual theme of “Uniting Overseas Chinese Talent, Forging a New Era of Innovation.” It brought together distinguished overseas Chinese talents, experts, scholars, overseas Chinese business leaders, and enterprise representatives from home and abroad to discuss cooperation and seek common development, injecting strong momentum from the overseas Chinese community into high-quality development in Fujian and across China.

The conference coincided with the 30th anniversary of the proposal of the concept of “a holistic approach to overseas Chinese affairs” by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee. Aligning closely with Xi’s important requirement during his inspection in Fujian to “play the ‘overseas Chinese card’ well in the new era,” the conference focused on its positioning of “being rooted in Fujian, serving the nation, and facing overseas.” It features five sections—the opening ceremony, awarding excellent contributions, gathering and cultivating overseas Chinese talent, attracting overseas Chinese talent, and the QIAOZHIHUI (Overseas Chinese Talent Convergence) Platform achievements release—comprising 16 key events. The conference specially invited Anhui Province as the guest-of-honor province, Harbin City in Heilongjiang Province as the guest-of-honor city, and Harbin Institute of Technology and Tongji University as the guest-of-honor universities, establishing a collaborative and multi-party event framework.

Prior to the opening ceremony, representatives of attendees visited the QIAOZHIHUI achievements release area, gaining a comprehensive understanding of Fujian’s practices in overseas Chinese affairs under the guidance of the concept of “a holistic approach to overseas Chinese affairs.” They witnessed the fruitful outcomes in areas such as overseas Chinese talent contributing to national development, services for overseas Chinese, and overseas Chinese innovation for the future under the Belt and Road Initiative. The opening ceremony featured several highlights, including the announcement of winners for the 2nd “Flourish in Fuzhou” Global Innovation and Entrepreneurship Competition, the Flag Presentation Ceremony for the Expert Service Team of the Overseas Chinese Talent Conference for Development, the unveiling ceremony for the first batch of “Overseas Chinese Talent Hub,” the launch of the Maritime Silk Road ASEAN International Industry-Education Integration Community, and the signing of the “2025 Overseas Chinese Talent Awarding Excellent Contributions” projects, effectively transforming overseas Chinese talent resources into tangible development outcomes.

To create a “never-ending Overseas Chinese Talent Conference,” the newly established “Overseas Chinese Talent Hub” provides a platform for high-level overseas Chinese talents to connect with opportunities for returning to China, driving industrial upgrading and promoting sustainable local economic development. Additionally, the QIAOZHIHUI website, with its mission to “connect global wisdom and empower patriotic contributions,” establishes a three-dimensional talent service system that integrates policy guidance, technology empowerment, and professional services for overseas Chinese, international students, and returned overseas Chinese.

The successful convening of this conference not only builds an important bridge for talent exchange and cooperation within the overseas Chinese community at home and abroad but also further implements the concept of “a holistic approach to overseas Chinese affairs,” transforming overseas Chinese talent resources into development advantages and gathering broader strength from the overseas Chinese community for Chinese-style modernization.