The 9th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention will be held in Kobe on Sept. 15-16 and move to Osaka on Sept. 17, with some 3,600 attendants from 33 countries and regions. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    KOBE, Japan, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Over 3,000 ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs from around the world gathered Saturday in Kobe, Japan to enhance business exchange and networking in the 9th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC).

    Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) Jia Qinglin, who is visiting Japan, congratulated the opening of the convention through a keynote speech.

    It is significant that the WCEC is held in Japan at the 35th anniversary marking the normalization of bilateral diplomatic ties between China and Japan, Jia said, hoping that the convention will promote economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries.

    Overseas ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs have been actively participating in international economic cooperation and competition as well as building economic networking around the world, Jia said, adding that they have been contributing to the global economy in a unique way.

    Tetsuzo Fuyushiba, Japanese Minister of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said at the ceremony that he hoped the conference can gather the economic energy of global Chinese entrepreneurs and also can connect with Japanese business circle.

    Former Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yasuo Fukuda, candidate of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party presidential election scheduled next week, also sent his congratulations to the convention through a video message.

    Among the some 3,000 attendants to the opening ceremony were Chinese entrepreneurs from over 30 countries and regions around the world, Japanese local government officials, leaders of famed Japanese enterprises as well as Chinese personages in the science and cultural fields.

    The convention is held at Kobe on Sept. 15-16 before it moves to Osaka on the 17th.

    With a theme of harmony, the 9th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC) is aimed at promoting exchanges among global ethnic Chinese as well as those between Chinese and Japanese.

    The logo of the biennial convention is to win with peace, harmony and cooperation and to benefit the world.

    Japanese business circle are expecting a lot from the WCEC. Several famous Japanese corporations including Toyota Motor Corporation, All Nippon Airways Co. are the convention's sponsors.

    The highlights of the convention include speeches by well-known entrepreneurs, discussions over economy, Asian city development, medical exchanges and other topics between Chinese and Japanese personalities.

    This year is also the Chinese Year in Japan marked by a series of cultural, artistic and exchange programs in Japan. During the convention, presentations of the 2008 Beijing Olympics and 2010 Shanghai World Expo will be launched in Japan, together with a number of other cultural, sports and tourism programs.

    "During the past two decades or so, I have witnessed China's growth together with other ethnic Chinese business persons," Francis Chua, former leader of Federation of Filipino-Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry told Xinhua, "I hope ethnic Chinese around the world will work closer to contribute to the development of China."

    The World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention has been successfully held in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Bangkok, Thailand, Vancouver, Canada, Melbourne, Australia, Nanjing, China, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Seoul, Republic of Korea since its birth in 1991, promoting local as well as regional and national economy of the host countries.

Backgrounder: World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention

    KOBE, Japan, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Over 3,000 ethnic Chinese entrepreneurs from around the world gathered Saturday in Kobe, Japan to attend the 9th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention (WCEC).

    The biennial convention, held at Kobe on Sept. 15-16 and Osaka on the 17th, is aimed at promoting exchanges among global ethnic Chinese as well as those between Chinese and the people of the host country.  Full story