BEIJING -- President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with overseas Chinese representatives who are in Beijing to attend the ninth Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations and a plenary session of the board of directors of the China Overseas Friendship Association (COFA).

On behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, expressed a warm welcome and sincere congratulations to the representatives and extended greetings to overseas Chinese around the world.

Wang Yang, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, was also present.

At the meeting of the COFA board of directors held Tuesday morning, participants were urged to make a greater contribution to national rejuvenation, the country's opening-up, peaceful reunification of the motherland and mutual learning of civilizations.

You Quan, a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, was elected COFA president at the meeting.

The ninth Conference for Friendship of Overseas Chinese Associations will be held Wednesday and attended by more than 450 leading members of overseas Chinese associations from more than 90 countries and regions.