In an instruction published on July 28, President Xi Jinping urged China’s 60 million-strong diaspora – together with 40 million returnees and their families now settled in the mainland – to ‘pool their strengths’ in service of building a “modern, strong socialist country.” The message, carried by Xinhua and repeated across official portals, frames overseas Chinese as a strategic asset in Beijing’s push for high-quality development and technological self-reliance. Xi’s statement highlights three priority areas where the diaspora can contribute: attracting advanced manufacturing investment, facilitating two-way scientific exchange, and acting as “bridges of people-to-people connectivity” that enhance China’s image abroad. While similar calls have been made in past Five-Year Plans, the 2026 directive is the first to link the role of overseas Chinese directly to the twin goals of national reunification and ‘Chinese-style modernisation’. For global mobility managers, the political signal matters. Provinces with large returnee communities – notably Guangdong, Zhejiang and Fujian – are expected to roll out fresh incentives this autumn, ranging from fast-track residency (the so-called “Qiao-Card”) to matched funding for start-ups founded by overseas Chinese professionals. Shanghai has already indicated that returnee entrepreneurs in strategic sectors will receive priority when applying for Innovation & Entrepreneurship residence permits (see separate item below). Companies employing ethnic-Chinese talent abroad should watch for outreach from Chinese regional authorities and industry parks. Officials are likely to court candidates with STEM or management backgrounds, offering subsidised housing and tax rebates. Some local governments have hinted at issuing multi-entry ‘family reunion’ visas to facilitate cross-border commuting for senior executives who choose to remain domiciled overseas. From a compliance perspective, firms relocating returnees will still need to secure standard work permits, but processing times can shorten by up to 50 % where provincial “Overseas Chinese Affairs” windows handle the file. Mobility teams should also brief staff on China’s worldwide tax regime: individuals resident in China for 183 days in a calendar year become liable for Chinese IIT on global income unless they qualify for specific treaty relief.
Source: Xinhua (via english.scio.gov.cn)
