Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Monday overseas Chinese in all parts of the world have made important contributions to the development of countries they have migrated to.

Opening the 7th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention in Kuala Lumpur, Mahathir said there is a common thread that links South East Asian countries and China, and that is the presence of the overseas Chinese.

They identify themselves with the countries they live in. Their presence has never been used as an excuse by China to invade and to colonize, as happens with other countries, Mahathir said.

Wherever they may be they have contributed to the wealth creation of these countries, he said, adding they do so because of their entrepreneurship, their willingness to take risks and their quick appreciation of the needs of the places where they have migrated to.

Together with their links with the emerging economic power that China has proven to be, the opportunities available to the world's Chinese entrepreneurs are truly limitless, he added.

The World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention was first held in 1991 as an international forum for Chinese entrepreneurs all over the world to meet and deliberate on important issues affecting global trade, industry and economy in general.

This biennial convention has been successfully held 6 times since, i.e. in Singapore (1991), Hong Kong (1993), Thailand (1995), Canada (1997), Australia (1999) and Chinese mainland (2001).

(Xinhua News Agency July 28, 2003)