The Chairman of the “Overseas Chinese Association for National Salvation” of the Republic of China, Tong Huizhen, visited Los Angeles on April 29th. An event was held at the 888 Seafood Restaurant in Southern California to welcome her, with around 200 people in attendance. During the banquet, Tong called on overseas Chinese to serve as a bridge in cross-strait relations and encouraged the younger generation to inherit and promote Chinese culture.
This visit marked Tong Huizhen’s first trip to the United States since taking office as Chairman on February 17th. During her eight-day itinerary, she had arranged around 20 meetings with overseas Chinese organizations. Wen Guanghua, Director of the Overseas Chinese Association’s Los Angeles office, stated that important visits included the Chinese Community Center, Chinese schools, the Los Angeles Overseas Chinese Service Center, the Washington D.C. Service Center, the Taiwan Association, the Fujian Chamber of Commerce, among others. Tong aimed to strengthen unity among overseas Chinese through face-to-face communication and reconnect with overseas Chinese communities that had been out of touch for about 20 years.
At the banquet, Tong emphasized that overseas Chinese are the mothers of revolution. The “Overseas Chinese Association for National Salvation” was established in 1952, specially set up by President Chiang Kai-shek during the first global overseas Chinese conference to unite overseas Chinese and continue Chinese culture. For 72 years, the association has been organizing global Chinese language competitions and regularly publishing the “Overseas Chinese Newsletter” to enhance communication among overseas Chinese organizations.
Amid the current impasse in official cross-strait communication channels, Tong Huizhen urged overseas Chinese to play a role in citizen diplomacy, letting people on the other side understand Taiwan’s core values of cherishing democracy and freedom, recognizing differences in lifestyles across the strait, and promoting mutual understanding. Tong also encouraged the younger generation of ethnic Chinese to get involved in overseas Chinese affairs. She promised that the Overseas Chinese Association would strengthen connections with repatriated Chinese groups and second and third-generation overseas ethnic Chinese, passing on the camaraderie of loving the homeland and country.
Consul General Ji Qinyao in Los Angeles commented that Tong Huizhen’s enthusiasm and energy were impressive and believed that the Overseas Chinese Association for National Salvation could unite overseas Chinese communities, support the government, and have a positive impact on the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.
That night, the association awarded the “Global Chinese Writing Award” to commend outstanding Chinese writers, and Wen Guanghua received a renewal of appointment letter. Tong Huizhen concluded by encouraging fellow overseas Chinese, stating, “The Overseas Chinese Association was born because of overseas Chinese, and overseas Chinese are the foundation of the Overseas Chinese Association.” She emphasized that the association is located next to the Presidential Office in Taiwan and welcomed overseas Chinese to visit and feel the warmth when returning to Taiwan. ◇