The three-day 12th World Tong’an Fellowship Convention & Xiang’an Investment Promotion Conference successfully concluded on January 18. Approximately 500 participants—including natives of Tong’an and Xiang’an from across the globe, elite overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, and distinguished figures from various sectors—convened under the theme “One Heart Globally, Flourishing with Tong’an and Xiang’an.” The gathering served as a vital platform to renew bonds with their hometowns, exchange views on development priorities, and map out a shared vision for the future, injecting strong momentum from the overseas Chinese community into Xiang’an’s pursuit of high-quality development.
Strengthening Global Ties, Opening a New Era
On the morning of January 17, with a gentle sea breeze along Dihua Islet and a warm atmosphere in the air, the Lianyun Hall at the Xiamen International Expo Center was filled to capacity, permeated with a strong sense of hometown sentiment. The 12th World Tong’an Fellowship Convention was opened with promotional videos highlighting Xiamen and Xiang’an’s cultural and tourism offerings. Through the footage, Xiang’an’s ongoing transformation and renewed vitality were presented, allowing participants from both home and abroad to feel the pulse of their native land and to share a sense of warmth in returning home, as well as pride in its development.
At the event site, Xiang’an District presented to compatriots at home and abroad a comprehensive picture of the vigorous vitality of this dynamic land. Since its establishment as a district in 2003, Xiang’an has implemented Xiamen’s strategy of “enhancing the island proper and pursuing cross-island development,” advancing with determination and initiative. The district’s average annual GDP growth has reached 18.8%, while total fiscal revenue grew from 120 million yuan to 10.7 billion yuan, representing an average annual increase of 22.8%. With cumulative fixed asset investment totaling 800 billion yuan, Xiang’an has ranked first among all counties (cities and districts) in Fujian Province for several consecutive years, becoming the strongest “engine” driving the city’s overall economic growth.
Today, Xiang’an has seen strong momentum in its four leading industries—flat-panel display, high-end equipment manufacturing, new energy and new materials, and semiconductors and integrated circuits. At the same time, various undertakings including education, healthcare, elderly care, and rural revitalization, have also achieved breakthrough progress, bringing about dramatic changes in the lives of local residents. During the “15th Five-Year Plan” period, Xiang’an will focus on “building the port in the south, developing industries in the north, developing the city in the west, and fostering innovation in the east,” striving to write its own chapter of Chinese modernization. Looking ahead, Xiang’an features clear industrial directions, vast platform space, and a favorable policy environment, containing abundant investment opportunities and enormous growth potential.
Spring breezes bring renewal to every view, as Xiang’an’s momentum surges anew. During the conference, participating compatriots, in groups, visited the Xiamen Airport-based Economic Zone, the Tan Kah Kee Innovation Laboratory, Xiatianwei Mangrove Park, and Dihua Islet, among other sites, gaining firsthand insight into the powerful pulse of their hometown’s high-quality development and rekindling warm and deeply rooted memories of their native place. At present, Xiang’an is advancing with determination toward a new journey of high-quality development, positioning itself as the primary arena for Xiamen’s cross-island development strategy. The conference serves not only as a grand gathering for Tong’an compatriots worldwide to strengthen their emotional bonds with their hometown, but also as a platform to pool overseas wisdom and jointly plan for future development. At the opening ceremony, Xiang’an District extended a sincere invitation to compatriots from around the world to take part as “planners,” “investors,” and “ambassadors” of their hometown’s development.
United by shared aspirations and bound by deep affection for Xiang’an, representatives of Tong’an compatriots took the stage that morning to share their reflections. Hu Jiacai, Chairman of the Singapore Tung Ann District Guild; Tan Sri Dr. Xu Zigen (Koh Tsu Koon), Honorary Advisor of the Penang Tong Aun Kim Har Association; Chen Qingshui, Chairman of Xiamen Yinlu Group; Wei Yaokun, General Chairman of the Indonesia Tunggal Andal Foundation (Tung An); Chen Liangji, President of the Federation of Tong-An, Kinmen and Xiamen Associations of Malaysia; and Su Jinzhan, President of the Hong Kong Tong’an–Xiang’an Association, were among those who spoke in succession. The speakers expressed a shared sentiment that, no matter where they reside, overseas Chinese communities have always kept their hometown close to heart. They noted that they would actively serve as bridges and links in the future, facilitating the return of more overseas resources and contributing to the development and growth of their hometown. The flag handover ceremony was held concurrently, during which the Singapore Tung Ann District Guild was officially announced as the host of the 13th World Tong’an Fellowship Convention.
Targeting Investment Promotion, Mapping a Shared Future
On the afternoon of the 17th, the Xiang’an Investment Promotion Conference was held at the Haixi Resort. As an event combining strong emotional ties to the hometown with tangible development momentum, this year’s conference for the first time deeply integrated the World Tong’an Fellowship Convention with the Investment Promotion Conference, bringing together overseas Chinese community leaders, distinguished figures, business representatives, and university experts from both home and abroad to meet with officials from relevant departments of Xiang’an District, where they shared hometown sentiments and jointly embarked on a “developmental commitment.”
A favorable business environment represents the best form of investment attraction. At the conference, 24 high-quality projects were signed in four batches, involving a total investment of 16.373 billion yuan and covering a wide range of sectors, including new energy and new materials, semiconductors and integrated circuits, machinery and equipment, artificial intelligence, commercial and cultural tourism, and biomedicine, injecting fresh momentum into Xiang’an’s efforts to build a modern industrial system.
To establish a normalized and institutionalized communication bridge, the event organizers conferred plaques on two investment liaison offices—the Singapore Tung Ann District Guild and the General Association of Xiamen (H.K.)—which will serve as “linking bridges” enabling overseas entrepreneurs to more easily understand, engage with, and invest in Xiang’an, continuously expanding the district’s channels for investment promotion.
As Xiamen’s youngest administrative district and one with the greatest vitality and development potential, Xiang’an enjoys the combined advantages of multiple overlapping policy incentives, undertakes tasks under Xiamen’s comprehensive reform pilot programs, serves as an important window for the city’s opening-up, and bears the city’s largest share of key provincial- and municipal-level construction projects. The district is accelerating the development of a “4+5+2” modern industrial system and has cultivated three industrial clusters—flat-panel display, high-end equipment manufacturing, and new energy and new materials—each valued at over 50 billion yuan. Its four leading industries have reached a combined scale of 180 billion yuan, its digital economy has grown to 100 billion yuan, and its above-designated-size industrial output has approached 200 billion yuan. Xiang’an is the largest optoelectronics industrial base in Fujian Province, a key base for advanced manufacturing in Xiamen, and has been listed among China’s Top 100 Industrial Districts for five consecutive years.
During the promotion session, Xiang’an comprehensively showcased its locational advantages, industrial layout, and policy incentives, enabling overseas Chinese entrepreneurs to clearly perceive the vast opportunities available in areas such as advanced manufacturing, the marine economy, and technological innovation, while further strengthening their confidence in investing in the district.
“Choosing Xiang’an means choosing the future.” Experts in the field of artificial intelligence offered in-depth interpretations of Xiang’an’s future industrial opportunities, while heads of enterprises based in Xiang’an, including Chengtun Mining Group, CALB (China Aviation Lithium Battery), and Luyan Pharmaceutical, voiced their support for the district, speaking highly of its favorable business environment and efficient government services.
As a highlight of the conference, the business matchmaking session for young compatriots from home and abroad was held on the same day. Young talents of Tong’an and Xiang’an origin from both China and overseas gathered to share their hometown ties and jointly chart a blueprint for development. At the event, the plaque-unveiling ceremony for the “World Tong’an Fellowship Convention Xiamen Xiang’an Youth Liaison Station” was also held, marking the establishment of an important platform for uniting young talent and supporting the hometown’s development. Chen Peixuan, head of the youth section of the Singapore Tung Ann District Guild, along with other young entrepreneur representatives, shared their insights on entrepreneurship and association-building. Meanwhile, side events, including tea parties and intangible cultural heritage–themed creative experiences, allowed compatriots from home and abroad to experience Xiang’an’s cultural heritage and innovative vitality while reconnecting over shared hometown sentiments and exploring potential opportunities for cooperation. (Correspondents: Xu Yanni, Cai Shaowei, Ye Xiaofei)
[Profile] Voices from the Roots, Hearts for the Homeland
Tan Sri Dr. Xu Zigen (Koh Tsu Koon)
Honorary Advisor of the Penang Tong Aun Kim Har Association
“I feel very proud that today’s main venue—the Xiamen International Expo Center—is built near Dongjie, my hometown,” said Tan Sri Dr. Xu Zigen (Koh Tsu Koon), Honorary Advisor of the Penang Tong Aun Kim Har Association. He said that Xiang’an’s vibrant momentum, vast opportunities, and grand vision have greatly inspired overseas compatriots. Looking ahead, he expressed his hope that the convention would serve as a bridge to open up broader avenues for cooperation and further strengthen ties with his hometown, ensuring that the bonds of kinship and shared roots can be passed down from generation to generation.
Wei Yaokun
General Chairman of the Indonesia Tunggal Andal Foundation (Tung An)
Mr. Wei Yaokun, 91, General Chairman of the Indonesia Tunggal Andal Foundation (Tung An) and the oldest participant at this year’s convention, hails from Luqian Community in today’s Fengxiang Subdistrict of Xiang’an. Returning to his hometown after many years, he said with emotion that the small village he once knew has now transformed into a modern new city, filling him with great pride. At the convention, he called for more opportunities to be created for younger generations and expressed his hope that overseas youth would participate in the development of overseas Chinese associations in innovative ways while staying engaged with the development of their hometown.
The 12th World Tong’an Fellowship Convention & the Xiang’an Investment Promotion Conference were held in Xiang’an. (Photos by Zhu Yili)
Compatriots from around the world shared their hometown sentiments and discussed development prospects.
