On October 26, the 2024 International Academic Seminar on Theory of Overseas Chinese Affairs was held in Wuhan, according to a report by Liang Ting from China News Service. The seminar marked the establishment of the Hubei Think Tank for Overseas Chinese Affairs, featuring 25 initial experts from eight countries, including representatives from universities and research institutions.
Themed “Global Youth and the Community of Chinese Culture,” the seminar was co-hosted by the Hubei Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Central China Normal University, and the Wuhan Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, with the State Council’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Office providing support. Experts from both home and abroad engaged in discussions on various topics, including new developments and trends for global overseas Chinese youth, the role of overseas Chinese youth in shaping the community of Chinese culture, current conditions for overseas Chinese youth in Hubei, and the experiences and practices of overseas Chinese youth in coastal regions.
Chen Youming, the president of the Indonesian Trilanguage School Association, emphasized the deep-rooted presence of Chinese culture in Southeast Asia, which has organically integrated with local Indonesian culture over the millennia. He noted that the strengthening of China-Indonesian relations has fueled enthusiasm among Chinese and local youth to learn the Chinese language, understand China, and experience Chinese culture.
Jiang Hao, a representative from the Hubei Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, highlighted the need to focus on the living conditions of overseas Chinese and their descendants. He underscored the importance of researching issues related to new immigrants, overseas Chinese youth, and the younger generation of overseas Chinese, while also enhancing studies on industries, technology, finance, culture, and the protection of rights for overseas Chinese.
Established in 2008 through a collaboration among the Hubei Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, Central China Normal University, and the Wuhan Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, the State Council’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Theory Research Base in Wuhan serves as a significant platform for the study of overseas Chinese affairs theory in China. To date, the base has hosted 12 international academic seminars, resulting in the creation of over a thousand reports, papers, and monographs.
