On October 18, 2024, the launch ceremony for the “Overseas Chinese Law Promotion Month” in Jinan and Lixia District was held at the Central Square of the Jinan Universiade Village Community. The event brought together over 100 representatives, including expatriate entrepreneurs, overseas Chinese, returnees, and their families, aiming to foster a supportive atmosphere for building connections and advancing the interests of the overseas Chinese community.
During the ceremony, Feng Shangwei, Deputy Minister of the Shandong Provincial United Front Work Department and Director of the Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, attended and presented a plaque for the Overseas Chinese Legal Service Work Station.
In her speech, Xu Yanfang, Deputy Minister of the Jinan Municipal United Front Work Department and Director of the Municipal Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, emphasized that the purpose of this promotional month is to fully implement the Party’s policies regarding overseas Chinese affairs. She highlighted the importance of safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of returnees and overseas Chinese, and how this initiative will leverage the unique advantages of the overseas Chinese community to promote high-quality development and enhance the city’s global engagement.
Xu elaborated on the responsibilities of overseas Chinese affairs departments, stating that they should act as effective promoters of overseas Chinese laws and regulations. She advocated for comprehensive service actions to raise awareness of the legal frameworks in place and to continuously improve the legal policies relevant to overseas Chinese. Additionally, she stressed the need for these departments to become trusted supporters for the overseas Chinese community, enhancing the services available to them.
Before the ceremony, Feng Shangwei and his team conducted a study of the overseas Chinese work in the Longdong Street area of Lixia District. At the event site, two dedicated areas were established for providing legal consultations and welfare services, offering helpful resources to raise societal awareness of overseas Chinese rights and protections.
Zhao Qian, a returnee, expressed her gratitude at the event for the opportunity to ask questions about overseas Chinese law. She noted that the proceedings not only offered free legal consultations for overseas Chinese but also provided a platform for the general public to learn about the laws affecting them. Zhao mentioned that she was able to gain insights on the latest policies for families of overseas Chinese and hoped for more such outreach programs in the future to provide effective legal assistance to their community.
