China Protects Rights of Overseas Chinese

Li Peng meets Filipino guest

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China regards it as important to protect the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Chinese, as well as returned overseas Chinese and their family members, top lawmaker Li Peng said November 27 at a meeting with Chinese Filipino guests.

China has made advancements in its legislation concerning overseas Chinese, he told members of a delegation from the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Association.

He extended a welcome to the visitors and said that China and the Philippines are close neighbors, and their relations have been developing well.

It is important for China to develop good-neighborly and friendly relations with the Philippines on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, he said.

He pointed out that Chinese Filipino and Chinese nationals in the Philippines have made positive contributions to the economic development of the Philippines and Sino-Filipino relations. Li said that he expects them to make further efforts to do so.

Manny Dy, president of the Federation of Filipino-Chinese Association, said that his organization has been devoted to

promoting Sino-Filipino relations since its founding 20 years ago, and will make more contributions in this area.