On the morning of February 15, 2025, the 9th Overseas Chinese Festival and the launch ceremony of the National Games Go and Chess Celebrity Invitation Competition and Online Marathon in Liwan District, Guangzhou were held at the Overseas Chinese Home of Xiguan Chess Academy. The event is guided by the Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Federation, the Organization Department of the Liwan District Committee, and the United Front Work Department of the District Committee. It is hosted by the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation and the Xiguan Chess Academy (Guangdong Donghu Chess Academy), and organized by the Economic and Trade Committee of the Guangzhou New Overseas Chinese Friendship Association, the Xiguan Chess Academy New Overseas Chinese Innovation and Entrepreneurship Talent Service Station, the Xiguan Chess Academy Overseas Chinese Home, the Liwan District High level Talent Friendship Association, the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Youth Federation, and the Jinan University EMBA Innovation Practice Base. It has also received support from the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau, Liwan District Development and Reform Bureau, Liwan District Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, Liwan District Cultural, Radio, Sports Bureau, Guangzhou Cultural Park, Liwan District Committee Talent Service Management Office, and Guangzhou Liwan Sea Federation. Strong support from the European and American Alumni Association in Liwan District. More than 100 people participated in this event, including Wu Xia, head of the Grassroots Construction Department of Guangdong Overseas Chinese Federation and a fourth level researcher, Li Miaojuan, member of the Party Group and Vice Chairman of Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Federation, Chen Junqing, a first level researcher of the Economic and Technological Department of Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Federation, An Jianguo, member of the Standing Committee of Liwan District Committee and Minister of the United Front Work Department, as well as experts, scholars, world champions, national champions, members of the Overseas Chinese Federation, overseas Chinese youth members, members of the European and American Alumni Association, alumni of Jinan University EMBA doctoral program, inheritors of traditional Chinese art, entrepreneurs in the overseas Chinese community, and celebrities and enthusiasts in the fields of chess and Go. At the launching ceremony, Bu Zhiqun, Chairman of the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation, delivered a welcome speech and expressed gratitude to the China Overseas Chinese Federation, provincial and municipal overseas Chinese federations, district committees, district governments, sister departments within the district, street party working committees, and friends from the overseas Chinese community for their continuous concern and support for the Liwan Overseas Chinese Federation. Bu Zhiqun specifically mentioned that the 12th Guangdong Provincial Congress of Returned Overseas Chinese and Their Relatives has just concluded, and Huang Kunming, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Wan Lijun, Chairman of the All China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, have put forward new expectations for the vast number of returned overseas Chinese and their families, as well as overseas Chinese. She hopes that the attending guests can seriously study, understand, and fully implement the spirit of the conference, cultivate the advantages of "overseas Chinese", do a good job in writing about "overseas Chinese", tell the stories of Liwan, the Greater Bay Area, and China well. According to Bu Zhiqun, recently, the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation was awarded the honorary title of "Typical Grassroots Organization Selection Unit of the National Overseas Chinese Federation System for 2023-2024" by the China Overseas Chinese Federation. It is the only selected unit in Guangzhou and the first time that the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation has received this type of honorary title. At the event, leaders from the provincial and municipal overseas Chinese federations presented a plaque to the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation, titled "National Overseas Chinese Federation System Grassroots Organizations Typical Selection Unit (2023-2024)". Li Miaojuan, member of the Party Group and Vice Chairman of the Guangzhou Overseas Chinese Federation, congratulated the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation in her speech and fully recognized its contributions in solving problems, assisting in poverty, safeguarding the interests of overseas Chinese, attracting investment and leveraging the power of overseas Chinese, expanding friendship and building connections with overseas Chinese, revitalizing intangible cultural heritage, and promoting the charm of overseas Chinese. Li Miaojuan emphasized that this year is the beginning of Guangzhou's construction of the "12218" modern industrial system. She hopes that Liwan District will continue to focus on overseas Chinese, leverage the advantages of overseas Chinese resources, build a professional platform for talents to "return home" and "go abroad", and continuously improve service quality. This year is the year of the National Games and the 9th Overseas Chinese Festival held in Liwan District. In order to express congratulations on the grand event, create a warm atmosphere of "I want to participate in the National Games" for the whole nation to participate in fitness, and also to express the eager anticipation of overseas Chinese for the arrival of the National Games, the 9th Overseas Chinese Festival in Liwan District and the Overseas Chinese Welcome National Games Go and Chess Celebrity Invitation Competition and Online Marathon Competition were officially launched on site. Provincial and municipal Go and Chess celebrities and sports enthusiasts gathered together to launch cultural and sports activities to welcome the National Games. At the same time, the online marathon competition of the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Youth Association adopts high-tech methods. Through an online app, the total distance accumulated by participants and teams during offline running from March to May 2025 is counted and ranked according to the total distance, aiming to encourage everyone to actively participate in sports and challenge themselves while running. Subsequently, leaders from the provincial, municipal, and district overseas Chinese federations, as well as district leaders, officially unveiled the plaque for the "Liwan District New Overseas Talent Reception Hall". The living room of the association is a comprehensive service platform specially built for overseas Chinese professionals, high-level talents, and innovative and entrepreneurial groups. It aims to promote talent exchange, resource integration, and innovative development at home and abroad, and help promote the high-quality development of Liwan. At the invitation of the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation, relevant officials from the Liwan District Development and Reform Bureau, Human Resources and Social Security Bureau, and High Talent Association respectively interpreted the economic and industrial development situation, high-level talents, and innovation and entrepreneurship support policies of Liwan District for overseas Chinese. They encouraged the attending guests to actively respond to the call of the Liwan District High Quality Development Conference, combine their respective career development priorities and professional expertise, and provide suggestions and strategies to solve the bottleneck of Liwan's economic development and optimize the business environment. They also actively participated in the construction of Liwan District's "1283" modern industrial system and shared the dividends of Liwan's reform and development. At the "Rongwan Going Global" sharing session for new overseas talents, representatives from the overseas Chinese community shared their successful cases in innovation and entrepreneurship, showcasing the abilities and achievements of the new overseas Chinese community, and providing valuable ideas and suggestions for overseas Chinese entrepreneurs. In addition, the event also held a roundtable forum on high-quality industrial development. Alumni, scholars, and industry experts from the EMBA program at Jinan University conducted risk assessments and provided solutions to the difficulties that companies may encounter in the process of "integrating the bay and going global". By addressing potential challenges in advance, they reduced the risks of "going global" operations, helped companies improve their global business success rate, and had in-depth exchanges on topics such as the development and utilization of artificial intelligence in multiple fields. Bu Zhiqun, Chairman of the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation, stated that the successful holding of this series of activities closely follows the theme of "Overseas Chinese see beautiful Li and embark on a high-quality new chapter", further consolidates the strength of the overseas Chinese community, showcases the charm of the overseas Chinese community, practices the spirit of the National Games with practical actions, and adds color to the National Games. Next, the Liwan District Overseas Chinese Federation will continue to forge ahead and write a new brilliant chapter on the road of consolidating the hearts, strengths, and interests of overseas Chinese. (New Society)