China's top leaders, including President Hu Jintao, joined lawmakers and political advisors in their panel discussions Sunday and aired their views on major issues concerning the development of the country.

After listening to advisors representing the Zhi Gong Dang Party and the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, Hu called on governments at various levels to better carry out all policies toward overseas Chinese and protect their legitimate rights and interests.

There are tens of millions of overseas Chinese around the world and more than 30 million overseas Chinese and their relatives have returned. They are a major force to promote China's modernization drive, the reunification of the motherland and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, said the president.

He urged the implementation of concrete measures and incentives to attract more overseas people and professional personnel studying abroad--especially the high-level professionals who are urgently needed--to come back to launch businesses at home.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2004)