Li Ruihuan, chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), made this remark in Beijing last Friday while meeting with representatives of organizations of overseas Chinese and foreign nationals of Chinese origin who have gathered to attend a get-together over the past three days.

During the meeting, the CPPCC leader congratulated the delegates on the opening of the meeting and expressed, via the leaders of the groups participating in the conference, his warm greetings to overseas Chinese and foreigners of Chinese origin living in different parts of the world.

Li quoted late Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping as saying that one of the conditions enabling China to develop faster is that there are tens of millions of overseas Chinese and foreign nationals of Chinese descent and this is quite a big advantage for the country. The practice shows that Deng's view is completely correct, he added.

Li said that he is personally impressed with the four traditions of Chinese going abroad, namely the traditions of hard-work, "do in Rome as the Romans do", unity and mutual help, and profound love for the motherland.

Present at the meeting were Vice-Premier Qian Qichen, Vice Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress He Luli, Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee Luo Haocai, and Director of the State Council Office for Overseas Chinese Affairs Guo Dongpo.

Over 200 leaders of the organizations of overseas Chinese and foreigners of Chinese origin from 60 foreign countries and regions, and over 100 representatives of government departments concerned attended the get-together, which was sponsored by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council and the China Overseas Exchanges Association. The meeting concluded Friday.

(xinhua 06/22/2001)