Businessman Huang Changran donated funds to rebuild Jieyang Tower on the site of the ancient city gate.

It was one of the largest sources of overseas Chinese, so it's not suprising that Jieyang in Guangdong province sees relations with its far-flung relatives as important, especially for social and economic development.

Mayor Chen Yiwei told China Daily that the city government will follow the nation's policies in protecting the interests of the overseas Chinese. It will also strengthen communication with them, improve administrative efficiency and services for them, and seektheir help for social and economic development.

"Jieyang is the ancestral home of more than 3.2 million overseas Chinese in 40-odd countries," Chen said. "They are a treasure."

"And their contributions have played an important role in the city's social and economic development."

According to Chen, Jieyang's overseas Chinese-backed businesses make up the lion's share of its 3,600 foreign-funded enterprises with foreign capital reaching $4.15 billion.

And the overseas Chinese have donated 2.6 billion yuan for several thousand welfare projects that go back to the late 1970s.

These businesses are key contributors to the job market and an important channel for foreign-currency earnings, the mayor said.

Naturally, the city government has made an effort to strengthen ties with those abroad, while following policies to protect the overseas Chinese living and working in Jieyang,

"The city will place greater importance on relations with the new generation of overseas Chinese since they grew in a completely different culture and their feelings for the hometown is not as strong as that of their parents or grandparents."

And the city government will change its business environment to benefit those overseas Chinese who have invested in Jieyang, to help boost their growth.

Chen said the city will make full use of various opportunities provided by commercial events or organizations to invite as many of them back to Jieyang as possible, for business.

These include the East Guangdong Overseas Chinese Expo, the World Chaoshan Businesspeople Convention, the Chaoshan Businesspeople Get-Together, as well as associations in different countries and regions.

The city government also expects its overseas Chinese, especially those in Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Macao, to help local businesspeople do business or invest overseas.

(China Daily 12/09/2010 page6)