BEIJING — Several Chinese departments jointly held a National Day reception on Sept 29 attended by around 2,300 representatives of overseas Chinese and their relatives, compatriots of Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, and returned overseas Chinese.

The departments included the United Front Work Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Committee of the National People's Congress, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, the Subcommittee for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Compatriots and Overseas Chinese of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party, and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.

Wan Gang, vice-chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, voiced hopes at the reception that overseas Chinese and their relatives, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan compatriots, and returned overseas Chinese can take part in China's new round of reform and opening-up and the modernization drive in a more extensive and in-depth manner.

"We hope they can make new and greater contributions to achieving high-quality development of the Chinese economy, promoting peaceful reunification across the Taiwan Strait, maintaining prosperity and stability of Hong Kong and Macao, and enhancing friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and the world in various areas," said Wan, also chairman of the Central Committee of the China Zhi Gong Party.