About the event:

On October 17, Mr. Guangbao Chen, President of the Victorian Shandong Association (Australia), led a delegation to visit the Jinan Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese. Ms. Mi Wenpeng, Party Secretary and Chairwoman of the Jinan Federation, welcomed the delegation and held a discussion session with them. Also present were Jianguo Xia, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the Victorian Shandong Association, and Yuesong Dong, Secretary of the Association.

Chairwoman Mi Wenpeng congratulated the Victorian Shandong Association on its establishment and expressed sincere thanks for its contributions, as well as those of the overseas Chinese community in Australia, to Jinan's economic and social development. She also provided an overview of Jinan’s current status and the recent work of the Federation.

She noted that 2024 marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China, as well as the 150th anniversary of the birth of patriotic overseas Chinese leader Chen Jiageng (Tan Kah Kee). At present, the entire city of Jinan is thoroughly implementing the guiding principles of the 20th CPC Central Committee's Third Plenary Session, with a strong focus on the "Year of Project Deepening" and the comprehensive advancement of the Strong Provincial Capital Strategy. Jinan is now experiencing the best development period in its history, with major strategic opportunities overlapping — providing a broad stage for overseas Chinese to innovate and start businesses.

She encouraged overseas Chinese to carry forward the “Jiageng Spirit”, leverage their cross-cultural connectivity, extensive networks, and intellectual resources, and actively participate in China's modernization journey and the new wave of reform and opening-up. She reaffirmed that the Jinan Federation will continue to serve overseas Chinese with dedication, build a “Home for Overseas Chinese,” and make full use of the strength of the overseas Chinese community in contributing wisdom and energy to the modernization of Jinan.

Mr. Guangbao Chen introduced the efforts of the Victorian Shandong Association in uniting the overseas Chinese community in Victoria, integrating into Australian society, and promoting China-Australia cultural and economic exchanges. He remarked that as China celebrates its 75th anniversary, prosperity and high-quality development remain the shared aspiration of all overseas Chinese. The Association will continue to act as a bridge between cultures, promote traditional Chinese culture, facilitate mutual learning between civilizations, and guide overseas Shandong compatriots to contribute to both their local communities and the development of Jinan and Shandong. “By telling China’s story well and amplifying the voice of Jinan (Spring City), we aim to serve the provincial capital’s development and contribute to its progress,” he said.