Editorial: Overseas Chinese: time to boost image

• Source: Global Times
• [00:47 August 04 2009]
• Comments

When talking about the image of Chinese living abroad, a column the Global Times once published entitled “Chinese in the eyes of the African people” comes readily to mind. It stated that “Chinese people generally lack legal awareness, don’t pay enough attention to their image, disrupt the market and don’t stick together.”

These are just some of the bad impressions of Chinese that are common in many foreign countries. The unpleasant reputation many overseas Chinese have among local people in their host countries goes against China’s long history of civilization and culture. It also detracts from the Chinese government’s diplomatic goal of building a more harmonious world.

If Chinese people don’t care about their image and show little respect to local traditions and laws, they will harm their own interests and make it difficult for China to have a lasting positive relationship with other countries.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry recently enlisted the help of China’s embassies and consulates to issue 900,000 pamphlets to people who are going abroad or already living overseas. The pamphlets list a number of do’s and don’ts to help overseas Chinese improve their image and interaction with local people and protect their safety.

The move is timely as more and more people are going abroad to immigrate, study or do business. According to official statistics, 45.8 million Chinese traveled abroad in 2008; the number is expected to exceed 50 million this year. More than 5 million Chinese are living abroad and almost 12,000 Chinese companies are located in foreign countries.

This group has a lot to offer in terms of boosting China’s economic growth and overall development; that contribution will be more sustainable if these overseas Chinese enjoy a good image.

China’s diplomatic institutions have also started to realize the connection between the behavior of overseas Chinese and their safety.

Many are ignorant of or don’t respect local traditions, laws and regulations. Some like to crudely flaunt their wealth, while many others simply find it difficult to become socially involved in their new environment.

These problems have too often made overseas Chinese easily marginalized, discriminated against and targeted by criminals. Helping overseas Chinese establish a better image will improve their safety and quality of life and make them more effective ambassadors of peace and friendship from China.

When overseas Chinese are respected and valued as friends within their host countries, China’s image as a whole will be improved.

China’s sons and daughters living abroad can promote the country’s international image as a powerful, responsible and respected nation.