The new members elected a president, vice-president and secretary-general during the inaugural general assembly, with Zheng Tao winning the presidential vote.

Zheng said in his inaugural speech that he will lead the association to serve as a bridge between various circles of Fujian society. He also pledged that the association will strive to build up emerging industries and the cultural confidence of the province.

As part of this, the organization plans to host an international youth culture festival in the coming year, which is intended to revive Fujian's cultural traditions and to introduce new international art forms to the province, promoting cultural exchange and mutual appreciation.

A letter to the members was also read out at the meeting. It called on the young returnees to apply their international vision, acumen in various areas and professional skills to the social and economic development of Fujian, bringing in new ideas and inspiring people in the province's rural areas to break out of the economic doldrums.

Lan Mingshang, deputy secretary of the Fujian Committee of the Communist Youth League, then presented the association with its official name plaque, which symbolizes that the association has been approved by Fujian's Civil Affairs Department as a non-profit social organization.

Deputy secretary of Fujian Committee of the Communist Youth League Lan Mingshang (right) presents the association with its official name plaque during the meeting in Fuzhou, Fujian province on Dec 11. [Photo by Chen Danni/Chinaqw.com]

Lan congratulated the members on the foundation of the association. He reminded the returnees that Fujian is in one of its most important strategic development periods and the opportunities it offers are unprecedented in history.

He also warned against the possibility that the association, which comprises highly educated social elites, might take a high-brow path and fail to gain more influence on society.