The 8th National Congress of Returned Overseas Chinese and their Relatives, which opened Tuesday in Beijing, called for returned overseas Chinese to spread the truth about the July 5 riot in Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

Lin Jun, chairman of the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, appealed to members of the federation to introduce to overseas Chinese the truth about the riot, expose the nature of hostile forces at home and abroad, and keep overseas people updated about economic and social development in Chinese regions inhabited by ethnic groups.

In his work report delivered at the congress, Lin stressed the importance of ethnic unity and social stability.

Lin was quoted by Wednesday's China Daily as saying that ethnic unity and social stability is in the interest of the Chinese people, including all ethnic groups.

Wang Yonggang, chairman of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Association of Returned Overseas Chinese, said at the congress that the riot was triggered by neither ethnic nor religious problems.

Wang said that overseas anti-China separatists were the instigators and that Rebiya Kadeer, leader of the World Uygur Congress, does not represent Uygur people.

It is estimated that Xinjiang has about 500,000 returned overseas Chinese and 1 million overseas Chinese originated in Xinjiang. The total number of returned overseas Chinese in China is around 30 million.

Lin said in his work report that the federation would further unite overseas Chinese and returned ones in the coming five years for the good of all Chinese at home and abroad.

More than 1,100 representatives from across the country and 340 overseas guests attended the congress opening on Tuesday.

First held in October 1956 in Beijing, the congress is now held once every five years.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2009)