Congress of the World Federation of Hainanese Associations held in Sydney

SYDNEY, Nov. 2 (People's Daily Online) The 14th Congress of the World Federation of Hainanese Associations & Hainan Culture Exhibition in Australia and New Zealand was held in Sydney, Australia on October 31. About 2,000 Hainanese from 19 countries and regions gathered in Sydney to deepen friendship and enhance further development.

"Hainan is one of the three largest homes of overseas Chinese. Overseas Hainanese show solicitude for their motherland and hometown, and dedicate themselves to the construction of their homeland," said Dr Tony Goh, Chairman of Federation of Australian Hainanese Organizations.

Mr Lin Fanglue, Vice Chairman of Hainan CPPCC, said that for a long time, overseas Hainanese keep making great achievements in numerous areas, not only contributing to their country of residence, but also devoting their energy and fund to their hometown as well. For 26 years, the Congress of the World Federation of Hainanese Associations has provided an excellent platform for worldwide Hainanese to enhance friendship, cooperation and mutual development, and expanded influences at home and abroad.

Concetta Fierravanti-Wells, Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, mentioned that the theme of the congress is friendship, cooperation and sustainable development. This is just like the relationship between China and Australia. "Our friendship is longstanding, rewarding and growing. Today, Mandarin is the most spoken language after English in Australia. We have many international students here from China. China is also our biggest trading partner. It is wonderful that we are now finalizing the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement in acknowledgement of wonderful benefits it will bring our respective countries," She said.

In the opening ceremony, an Australian soldier of "seagull detachment" accepted the special award from the congress. During World War II, some Australian soldiers from "seagull detachment" were transferred to Hainan Island and got the protection from Chinese people. The soldier has witnessed the friendship between China and Australia since he was in Hainan.