On September 28th, 2020, Deng Rui, deputy director of the Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Meizhou Committee of C.P.C, visited the Research Center for Indian Ocean Island Countries (RCIOIC) for research and exchange, and gave a keynote speech on the academic symposium with the theme of Research on Overseas Chinese in the Indian Ocean Region. The symposium was chaired by Professor Zhu Xianlong, executive director of RCIOIC.
Director Deng pointed out that overseas Chinese were an important part of the study of Indian Ocean island countries. Starting from the research history and current situation of overseas Chinese in the seven target countries of RCIOIC, he elaborated on the overseas Chinese, especially the survival and development of the overseas Chinese of Meizhou city in the target countries, from multiple perspectives such as population flow, trade exchanges and the construction of human community with a shared future. With the continuous improvement of China's comprehensive national strength and international status, the political and social status of overseas Chinese in island countries continued to rise, playing a unique role as a bridge between China and their countries of residence. Combined with his long-term experience in overseas Chinese affairs, Director Deng believed that the research on overseas Chinese in Indian Ocean island countries needed to be implemented slowly and steadily with further in-depth fieldwork so as to obtain more first-hand data to support theoretical research, especially the extensive study on the family origin, pedigree context and lifestyle of the overseas Chinese in the target countries, etc.
Professor Zhu said in his concluding speech that Director Deng had rich experience in overseas Chinese affairs, great contributions and unique views on the research of overseas Chinese, and held that the center would develop rapidly and achieve remarkable results in the study of overseas Chinese in the future with his strong support and assistance.
