On July 10, the Chongqing Municipal Government held a press conference announcing that the first Belt and Road Overseas Chinese Cooperation and Development Conference will take place in Chongqing from July 16 to 17. The event will bring together more than 500 overseas Chinese representatives from over 110 countries and regions, covering five continents — making it one of the most internationally diverse gatherings in the region in recent years.
Since the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) was first introduced in 2013, it has grown from a vision into one of the world’s most ambitious and inclusive platforms for global collaboration. Rooted in the principles of consultation, joint development, and shared benefits, the BRI has evolved into a broad and multilayered framework, expanding across continents and industries. Among its most dynamic contributors are overseas Chinese communities, who have long played a pivotal role in China’s modernization and global engagement.
This year’s conference — co-hosted by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the People’s Government of Chongqing, and the People’s Government of Sichuan Province — will revolve around the theme “Overseas Chinese on the New Silk Road: Joining Hands for the Future.” It’s a theme that reflects both ambition and clarity: to explore how overseas Chinese can deepen their role in shaping the next chapter of China’s high-quality, open development.
Guided by the eight key actions for building a high-quality Belt and Road, the conference will emphasize connectivity, collaboration, and regional synergy. It places stabilizing foreign trade and investment at its core while highlighting the importance of integrating domestic and international market resources. Beyond trade and infrastructure, the event seeks to elevate the contributions of overseas Chinese in fostering meaningful dialogue, supporting innovation, and opening doors for mutual growth across cultures.
According to Xu Huakun, Acting Director of the Economic and Technological Department at the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the event will follow a “1+1+4+5” format. This includes one high-level group meeting, one opening ceremony and plenary session, and four thematic forums: supporting Chinese products in going global, promoting high-quality development, strengthening people-to-people connections through storytelling, and fostering innovation and entrepreneurship among returnee youth. After the main event, five field visits are scheduled across Chongqing, Sichuan, and Xinjiang — offering hands-on engagement and local immersion for participants seeking to build real-world partnerships.
Notably, the opening ceremony will feature the release of the “Top 10 Overseas Chinese Belt and Road Contribution Cases”, the launch of a new Belt and Road Chinese Business Network, and signing ceremonies for nationally significant projects. A keynote session will spotlight the future of BRI collaborations, and 26 international Chinese-language media outlets have been invited to cover the event — symbolizing a broader effort to build bridges between China and the world, using the overseas Chinese community as a powerful connective thread.
With its sweeping scope and deep cultural resonance, the conference is more than a diplomatic event — it’s a reminder of how diasporic voices can shape national stories, and how global cooperation often begins with shared roots and open dialogue.
500余名侨界人士将齐聚重庆 寻觅中国西部发展机遇
重庆市政府新闻办在10日举行的新闻发布会上透露，首届“一带一路”华侨华人合作发展大会将于7月16日至17日在重庆举行，邀请来自110余个国家和地区的500余名华侨华人代表与会，覆盖5大洲，国际性和代表性强。
自从2013年共建“一带一路”倡议提出以来，共建“一带一路”始终坚持共商共建共享原则，合作领域不断拓展、合作范围不断扩大、合作层次不断提升，成为当今世界广受欢迎的全球公共产品与国际合作新平台。侨是我国对外开放和现代化建设中一支重要力量，是推动“一带一路”建设的重要参与者和贡献者。
本次大会由中国侨联、重庆市人民政府、四川省人民政府共同主办，以“侨聚新丝路 携手向未来”为主题，以高质量共建“一带一路”八项行动为指引，以互联互通为主线，统筹区域协作、内外合作，将“稳外资”“稳外贸”作为重要内容，聚焦国内国际市场资源联动，着力发挥广大侨胞在推动我国高水平对外开放、高质量发展，推动中外交流、参与民间交往中的独特作用，促进和带动“一带一路”共建国家华侨华人共享发展机遇、共谋发展创新、共商和谐共赢。
中国侨联经济科技部副部长（主持工作）许华坤介绍，本次大会围绕招商引资、经贸交流、民间交往等议题，采取“1+1+4+5”的内容体系，设置1场集体会见，1场开幕式暨全体大会，以及“侨助千企万品出海”“侨助高质量发展”“侨助民心相通·讲好中国故事”“海归青年创新创业交流”等4个单场交流活动，会后安排重庆区县、四川、新疆等5条参访对接路线，既有对接交流又有实地考察，为与会嘉宾搭建起多层次、多领域的交流合作平台。
大会开幕式上，将首次发布共建“一带一路”侨力量十佳案例，启动“一带一路”华商组织协作网，举行来自全国的代表性项目签约和共建“一带一路”专题演讲，邀请26家海外华文媒体，“以侨为桥”汇聚中外智慧与力量，共筑开放合作新篇章。