Anchor: A biennial gathering of overseas TeoChew people from Chaozhou and Shantou of South China's Guangdong Province, began on Saturday in Sydney.
The theme of the convention is "strive for another brilliant achievement" and about 2,500 people from around the world attended.

CRI's Australia correspondent Chen Feng reports.

Reporter: Australian Prime Minister John Howard sent a video message to the 14th TeoChew International Convention, in which he spoke highly of Australia's relationship with China.

"And that's the relationship that has being very important to me in my eleven and a half years as prime minister. I've worked very hard to bring the two nations together and I'm very proud of the progress being made."

Australian deputy Prime Minister Mark Vaile, Federal Attorney-general Philip Rudduck, Vice Premier of New South Wale John Watkins and other senior Australian government officials attended the convention's opening ceremony. Vaile said having the convention in Sydney was a significant example of the strengthened relationship between Australia and China.

"We look forward to increasing people-to-people exchanges between our two countries and the growth in the relationship between Australia and China."

The Vice Chairman of China's Federation of the Returned Overseas Chinese, Lin Jun, Deputy Director of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Ma Rupei and Chinese Ambassador to Australia, Zhang Junsai, also spoke at the convention.

The two senior officials in charge of overseas Chinese affairs called on overseas Chinese to contribute to the country's peaceful reunification. Ma Rupei said Chinese both at home and abroad have common aspirations for realizing the country's peaceful reunification.

"We sincerely hope that the overseas Chinese fully recognize the secessionist nature of the Taiwan authorities and its harm. Let's unite to safeguard the fundamental interests of the entire Chinese nation, promote cross-Straits personnel exchanges and economic and cultural activities, and strive for the earlier realization of reunification."

The three-day convention also includes a calligraphy exhibition, an academic seminar, economic and trade exchanges and tourism promotion activities.

It is estimated that 6.5 million TeoChew people live overseas.

Chen Feng, CRI news, Sydney.