Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday
overseas Chinese in all parts of the world have made important
contributions to the development of countries they have migrated
to.
Opening the 7th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, Mahathir
said there is a common thread that links South East Asian countries
and China, and that is the presence of the overseas Chinese.
They identify themselves with the countries they live in. Their
presence has never been used as an excuse by China to invade and to
colonize, as happens with other countries, Mahathir said.
Wherever they may be they have contributed to the wealth
creation of these countries, he said, adding they do so because of
their entrepreneurship, their willingness to take risks and their
quick appreciation of the needs of the places where they have
migrated to.
Together with their links with the emerging economic power that
China has proven to be, the opportunities available to the world's
Chinese entrepreneurs are truly limitless, he added.
The World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention was first held in
1991 as an international forum for Chinese entrepreneurs all over
the world to meet and deliberate on important issues affecting
global trade, industry and economy in general.
This biennial convention has been successfully held 6 times
since, i.e. in Singapore (1991), Hong Kong (1993), Thailand (1995),
Canada (1997), Australia (1999) and Chinese mainland (2001).
(China Daily July 28, 2003)