On September 28, the Shanghai History Museum, formerly known as the Shanghai Revolutionary History Museum, hosted an important event titled “Talking About the History of Overseas Chinese.” This initiative seeks to emphasize the significant historical contributions of the overseas Chinese community while promoting a sense of patriotism and love for one’s homeland. It was organized by the Shanghai Municipal United Front Work Department in collaboration with the Jing’an District United Front Work Department and the Shanghai Overseas Chinese Affairs Office.
At the event, participants had the privilege of listening to notable speakers such as Zheng Yongtang, the Vice President of the Shanghai Alumni Association of Jimei School, and Cao Xiaoxiang, a Magnolia Award recipient and conductor of the Shanghai Urban Symphony Orchestra. The audience also heard from Wu Zhiqiang, a returnee from Germany, a member of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and a professor at Tongji University, as well as Ren Meifei, an Argentine returnee and Executive Director of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. These speakers shared their journeys related to national development, building international friendships, and contributing to Shanghai’s reform and growth. As integral members of the broader Chinese family, the overseas Chinese community demonstrates a strong commitment to aligning their personal successes with their nation’s future and the welfare of their people, reflecting a profound love for the country and a sense of social responsibility.
The event also included a presentation on ongoing research into the history of overseas Chinese in Shanghai. Under the guidance of the Shanghai Municipal United Front Work Department, the Shanghai Overseas Chinese Affairs Office is collaborating with universities and research institutions. Their efforts are focused on developing an “expert team, an exhibition space, a historical map of overseas Chinese, a set of on-site teaching routes, and a collection of practical outcomes.” This comprehensive strategy aims to further research on the history of overseas Chinese and to identify and compile historical and cultural resources related to overseas Chinese and their families throughout the city. Moving forward, there will be ongoing efforts to deepen the research into the history of overseas Chinese in Shanghai, alongside a commitment to enhancing the protection and use of overseas Chinese cultural heritage.
