CHENGDU -- China will continue working to encourage more investment from overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, President Xi Jinping said on Wednesday.

In his congratulatory letter to the 12th World Chinese Entrepreneurs Convention, Xi said overseas Chinese entrepreneurs would be offered a grand stage to realize their visions during the great renewal of the Chinese nation.

The event opened on Wednesday in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province.

Xi said overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, with their hard work and outstanding traditions, live harmoniously with people around the world and have contributed to the world economy and social progress.

Overseas Chinese also made indelible contributions to the success of China's opening up. With their capital, technology, management expertise and business networks, they helped promote China's economic and social development and facilitated exchanges and cooperation with the outside world, he noted.

China's ambition for an affluent society and the renewal of the Chinese nation offers unprecedented opportunities for overseas Chinese entrepreneurs. Xi hoped they would actively participate in the country's reform drive and modernization, growing their businesses to mutual benefit in cooperation with China.

The biennial event, an important platform for exchanges between overseas Chinese entrepreneurs, was initiated by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in 1991.

Previous events have been hosted around the globe, in countries including Singapore, Thailand, Canada, Australia and Japan, while the last Chinese city to host the event was Nanjing in 2001.

This year's convention has attracted more than 3,000 entrepreneurs from over 100 countries, the event's organizing committee said.

During the two-day convention, more than 100 invited guests from the government, businesses and academics will discuss 15 topics such as transnational development of Chinese enterprises and opportunities in the development of China's western region.