1st Belt and Road Conference for Overseas Chinese Cooperation and Development to Open in Chongqing

This photo shows a city view of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality. (Photo: Xinhua)

Chongqing - The inaugural Belt and Road Conference for Overseas Chinese Cooperation and Development will be held in Chongqing from July 16 to 17.

Co-hosted by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC), along with the municipal governments of Chongqing and Sichuan Province, the conference aims to advance cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

The press briefing on the First Belt and Road Conference for Overseas Chinese Cooperation and Development takes place in Chongqing on July 10. (Photo: Tan Xinyu)

Speaking at a press briefing on July 10, Xu Huakun, Deputy Director of ACFROC’s Economic and Technological Department, highlighted the essential role of overseas Chinese in China’s ongoing process of opening up and modernization.

"Two-thirds of the more than 60 million overseas Chinese worldwide live in countries participating in the BRI, forming a natural bridge between China and the world," Xu said.

With the theme “Uniting Overseas Chinese on the New Silk Road for a Shared Future,” the conference will focus on aligning domestic and international resources while leveraging the unique position of overseas Chinese in driving high-level opening-up, high-quality development, international engagement, and people-to-people connectivity.

More than 500 representatives from the global Chinese diaspora—spanning over 110 countries and regions across five continents—are expected to attend.

The program will follow a “1+1+4+5” structure: one collective meeting, one opening ceremony and plenary session, four themed breakout forums, and five field research visits. Key discussion areas include investment promotion, trade cooperation, cross-cultural exchange, and youth innovation and entrepreneurship.

Participants will also take part in site visits across Chongqing, Sichuan, and Xinjiang to explore new cooperation opportunities and deepen regional engagement.

The opening ceremony will unveil a curated selection of outstanding cases that highlight overseas Chinese contributions to the Belt and Road Initiative. It will also launch the Belt and Road Chinese Business Organizations Cooperation Network, featuring project signings and keynote addresses.

Twenty-six Chinese-language media outlets from overseas have been invited to cover the event.