Guo Dongpo, director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, issued a New Year's message for overseas Chinese on December 29.

He said that the year 1999 has been significant for China because it was the year the country celebrated its 50th anniversary and embraced Macao's return -- two events which greatly inspired overseas Chinese.

The director highly praised the contributions from overseas Chinese to China's economic and social development. They have helped to promote the friendship, cooperation and exchange between China and the countries where they live.

They have also played an important role in promoting China's reunification, denouncing the US-led NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Yugoslavia, refuting Lee Tenghui's "two states" statement and criticizing the Falun Gong cult organization.

Guo said the plan for his office in the next year is to promote education on Chinese among overseas Chinese and further support enterprises run by them.

He said he believes the new millennium will bring both challenges and opportunities, and that the Chinese people together with the overseas Chinese will build a more prosperous country.