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14 NEWS April 10-16, 2017 DAILY ASIA WEEKLY Big welcome for diaspora city expands Nanyang festival to give thanks for contributions of overseas townsmen and to increase cooperation

By MA ZHIPING in Wenchang, Hainan [email protected]

he traditional Chinese Qingming Festival, or Tomb-sweeping Day, which fell on April 4 this year, is Tan occasion for people to return to their hometowns to pay respect to their deceased ancestors and family members. And for Wenchang, in ’s tropical Hainan , an event leading up to Qingming has a very forward- looking focus. Situated about 80 kilometers from the provincial capital , Wen- chang is the ancestral home of more than 1.2 million . In March, the city was busy mak- ing preparations for the Nanyang cultural festival, held on and 2, to welcome fellow townsmen from overseas. It is a place renowned for its more than 2,000 years of history, culture and charming tropical landscapes. And Wenchang is also the location of STUDENTS at a school in Wenchang. Overseas Chinese with Wenchang roots have contributed signifi cantly to the city’s development, especially in education. the country’s most advanced satellite PHOTOS BY MA ZHIPING / ASIA WEEKLY launch center, which has received worldwide attention since becoming tion, according to local reports. operational last June. The vice-mayor said guests from Xing Caihong, vice-mayor of the government departments, business- city, said Wenchang has held a Nan- es, , cultural and research yang festival for fi ve years, but this fields would join their fellow Chi- year the Hainan government decid- nese from overseas to discuss how ed to expand it into a bigger pro- to carry out Hainan’s fi ve-year plan vincial event. Already these festivals (2017-2021) on overseas cooperation, have generated a positive impact, and exchanges in building projects attracting and uniting many over- under the Belt and Road Initiative. seas Chinese who trace their ances- The initiative, put forward by Presi- try to Hainan natives who journeyed dent in 2013, aims to con- to Nanyang during the Ming (1368- nect Asia with Africa and Europe 1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynas- through an infrastructure and trade ties, seeking fortune. network along the ancient Silk Road. Nanyang is a geographical term Jiaohui, one of Wenchang’s top referring to the vast region which, offi cials, said: “Wenchang plans to during that historical period, cov- make the festival a public foreign ered today’s 10 member countries of aff airs platform to bring the wisdom the Association of Southeast Asian and talent of overseas Chinese into Nations. Many people in the coastal full play. It will be a local brand cul- of , and tural product, or even a provincial Hainan, who lived in extreme pov- brand.” erty because of wars and lack of land WENCHANG is the ancestral home of more than 1.2 million overseas Chinese. Speaking ahead of the festival, Li resources, left their homeland for said a total of 28 projects would be Nanyang to seek a better life. roots have made enduring contri- ing the city’s infrastructure and gen- ida’s Cape Kennedy in the United introduced, covering such sectors More than 3 million descendants butions to the city’s development, erating new businesses. States. as tourism, manufacturing, agricul- of the Hainan natives who went to especially in education. Many of The vice-mayor, at a news briefi ng Wenchang, by highlighting both ture, science and technology, and Nanyang now reside in more than Wenchang’s most beautiful build- on March 27, said Wenchang had overseas Chinese culture and local with investment projected to top 17.6 50 countries and regions around the ings are school buildings, said a invited more than 200 overseas Chi- culture, wants to make this festival billion . world, many playing important roles local offi cial. nese community leaders and compa- a platform for win-win cooperation, A world council meeting of Hain- in local social and economic develop- Wenchang Middle School, estab- triots from 20 countries and regions showing overseas fellow townsmen an community groups and associa- ment. lished in 1908, has cultivated much to attend the two-day festival which the new opportunities the city off ers tions was also planned to further Luli, grandnephew of Wen- talent for the country, with generous was being staged in Longlou town. in trade, tourism and culture. mobilize overseas Chinese to invest chang native Wang Zhaosong, a lead- support from overseas Chinese. The regions included , “We hope to show them around in the future of their homeland, er in the overseas Chinese communi- Incomplete statistics from the city Macao and . to see the latest changes and con- according to the city government, ty in , said Wang’s progeny government show that overseas Chi- Longlou is becoming well-known vince them to stay and make eff orts which organized the event. now live in more than 20 countries. nese have built more than 280 school because of its proximity to the Wen- to bring about new changes for A plan was made for festival partic- “They have passed on Wang’s patri- buildings in Wenchang with their chang Satellite Launch Center — Wenchang,” said Xiaobo, Wen- ipants to tour Wenchang’s beautiful otic spirit and donated more than 2 own funds. Figures for their total China’s fourth and southernmost chang’s Party chief. , enjoy delicious food and per- million yuan ($290,000) to support donations were not available. space vehicle launch facility and its The Wenchang Satellite Launch formances by artists from places such education and social relief work in But their support for education is fi rst coastal one. There are plans to Center and a large number of infra- as , Malaysia, and Hainan in the past 10 years,” he said. only part of the story. They have also develop aerospace-themed tourism structure projects have turned the Hong Kong, and show their talent in Overseas Chinese with Wenchang invested in tourism projects, improv- in Longlou, making it similar to Flor- city into a hot investment destina- Chinese calligraphy and painting.