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by Xinhua Writer Xia Lin
MEXICO CITY, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 shops were looted in mid-December in several states of Venezuela, but few of their Chinese owners were physically harmed. Amid wide-ranging shortage of goods and drying up of local currencies, Chinese business people are staying united to ensure security.
"We have gradually founded 23 branches across the country for self-protection and promotion, which worked very well this time," Wu Tianrong, major leader of the Chinese communities in Venezuela, told Xinhua.
A four-country investigation in Latin America by Xinhua reporters tells the truth of millions of Chinese living in Brazil, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela enjoying better security and expanded cultural influence in 2016.
Numbering around 200,000 in total, the Chinese in Venezuela have increasingly realized that they can eschew risk and well protect themselves if they get organized in a proper way.
"Legally established at state levels, the 23 branches can interact with each other and essentially put us in arms against emergencies and for common development," said Wu.
Each member has his social connection and when needed, all connections can form a network to bless their collective interests, especially personal security, he added.
COOPERATION WITH LAW ENFORCERS
In Mexico, where bandits tend to aim Chinese merchants for cash and fortune, they try to keep in regular contact with local law enforcers to retrieve losses and put criminals to justice.
Feng Chengkang, a major leader of the Chinese communities in Mexico, organized a committee in May 2012 in Mexico City to lubricate ties with local law enforcers and judiciary departments to ensure that their business and personal safety can be legally protected.
"In March or April, one Chinese businesswoman was abducted in Mexico City. Three days after the case was reported, the abductors were arrested through our cooperation with the justice department," he told Xinhua.
So far, the committee has enrolled over 100 permanent members and 400strong part-timers. Altogether 450 criminal cases and 200 civil ones have been well handled through its operation or transaction, almost a legend to the Chinese people living or working in Mexico.
"We serve our purpose by linking the opinions, decisions, policies, regulations and laws of the Chinese embassy, the Mexican government and the Chinese people themselves, a pattern never exercised before our committee was set up," added Feng.
ART AND CHARITY
In Brazil, where recession sustains despite the success of the Olympic and Paralymic Games, Chinese people win respect through charity and art contribution.
The total number of the Chinese communities has accumulated to some 200,000 in recent years, a dominant foreign force deserving enough attention in the largest economy in Latin America.
"We donated for the mud slide relief work several years ago, winning praise from the government and local people. (In 2015) we organized photo show and art performance to celebrate the 450th anniversary of Rio," said Yin Chuping, a major leader of the Chinese communities in Brazil.
In 2016, under the guidance of the Chinese embassy, Yin pooled the power of relevant groups to commemorate the 150th birthday of Sun Yat-sen, herald of the Chinese democratic revolution, to help proliferate the history and development of modern China.
"We are trying to promote the Chinese culture, push forward the bilateral relations and help the Brazilians know more about China, which can also build a positive and distinctive image of us Chinese in Brazil," Yin told Xinhua.
In Panama, where more than five percent of its three million population are of Chinese origins, Chinese culture has already seeped into every corner due to their long existence since the country started to build its world-leading canal more than 100 years ago.
"Under the guidance of China's commercial representative's office, we recently established a cooperation center and an art troupe in order to serve and help our communities and contribute to the bilateral exchanges in culture and trade," said Zheng Yiliang, a major leader of the Chinese communities in Panama.
Regular commercial and cultural contacts have led to more social recognition of the Chinese people in Panama, who are now modern business people, rather than offspring of the labors who came here to construct the Panama Canal, Zheng told Xinhua.
CHINA EVER STRONGER
Though living in Latin America, the human-inhabited continent furthest from their motherland, the Chinese communities have felt that an ever stronger motherland provides them with confidence and hope for the upcoming years.
"We always stand together with the Chinese government while promoting culture and friendship on the land where we thrive. China gives us identity and Brazil gives us fortune," said Yin Chuping.
For Feng, his job in 2017 is to feed back more to the society of Mexico, as the country did a lot in 2016 to help his compatriots gain their foothold and multiply their business.
In Panama, Zheng and his colleagues plan to cash in on the Chinese government's Belt and Road Initiative to enhance the cultural exchange as well as trade and commerce cooperation.
For Wu, it is still necessary to beef up the Chinese chambers for more opportunities and the common welfare of their Venezuelan friends.
"Though Venezuela is in a relatively difficult period, we have confidence to unite and endure the hardship, with hands joined with our local partners," he added. Enditem
Xinhua reporters Chen Weihua and Zhang Wuyue reporting from Rio de Janeiro, Qian Yongwen from Mexico City, Su Jin from Panama City, and Xu Ye from Caracas.
