BEIJING, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Representatives of overseas Chinese communities welcome the call by Chinese President Xi Jinping for building a maritime community with a shared future, deeming it helpful to efforts in maintaining maritime security, peace and order.

"The blue planet humans inhabit is not divided into islands by the oceans, but is connected by the oceans to form a community with a shared future, where people of all countries share weal and woe," Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, said on Tuesday during a group meeting with the heads of foreign delegations invited to attend the multinational naval events marking the 70th founding anniversary of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy.

The conception President Xi put forward serves building a human community of a shared future, and the maritime security in Xi's vision of mutual benefit and win-win situation reaffirms the Chinese people's love of peace and commitment to seeking shared benefit with the world people, said Li Zuqing, vice chairman of Myanmar-China Friendship Association in Mandalay and secretary general of the Northern Myanmar Chinese Chamber of Commerce.

In the opinion of Oh Ei Sun, principal advisor for Malaysia's Pacific Research Center, Malaysia is willing to enhance cooperation with China in such fields as ocean environment protection and marine scientific research in order to tackle common threats and challenges and safeguard maritime security and peace.

Zhang Peijun, chairman of the Peaceful Reunification of China Association of New Zealand, said maritime security matters much to the bilateral trade between New Zealand and China, adding that the two countries should promote the maritime connectivity and the practical cooperation in various fields, and make joint efforts to resolve the common threats and challenges in the South Pacific region.

Speaking of Xi's call for a maritime community with a shared future, Song Hong, a Chinese veteran after 20-year service and chairman of the United Arab Emirates Chinese Businessmen Association, highlighted the vital responsibility the Chinese navy bears for safeguarding the maritime peace and order, and said he believes that the navy will be an important part of the efforts.

Yuan Yi, executive vice president of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification in Russia, praised the increasing role of the Chinese navy in keeping sea passages safe and promoting ocean cultural exchange, saying it is an important force to safeguard maritime peace, tranquility and order.