Abstract

The Dr. You Bao Shao Overseas Chinese Documentation and Research Center at Ohio University Libraries was established in 1993. Since its establishment, the Center has been actively promoting worldwide institutional cooperation through conferences and joint meetings, including this First International Conference of Institutes and Libraries for Overseas Chinese Studies. The Conference drew the attention of academic centers, research institutes, library collections, academic societies, university programs, and museums and brought together over 150 scholars, researchers, teachers, archivists, librarians, curators, and community activists worldwide. It includes four plenary sessions: 1. Locating, collecting, preserving, and sharing resources, 2. Cooperation of overseas Chinese research projects, 3. Digitizing and sharing resources on overseas Chinese, and 4. Publication and organization with established programs, curriculums, professional activities, and academic studies on overseas Chinese studies.

Keywords

Library cooperation; Overseas Chinese studies; Asian and Asian-American studies; Resource-sharing; Case studies; Ohio University Libraries; Dr. You Bao Shao Overseas Chinese Documentation and Research Center (Ohio University, Athens); Interlibrary cooperation; Bibliographical centers.

1. Introduction

The First International Conference of Institutes and Libraries for Overseas Chinese Studies was held at Ohio University, Athens, in March 24-25, 2000. The purpose of the conference was to promote cooperation among institutions and libraries in collecting, preserving and sharing of materials relating to overseas Chinese with an emphasis on identifying and implementing cooperative endeavors.

The increasing importance of the Overseas Chinese has encouraged the growth of overseas Chinese studies. In recent years, many academic centers, research institutes, library collections, academic societies, university programs, and museums for overseas Chinese studies have been formed around the world. While these establishments have individually made considerable contributions to the field of Overseas Chinese studies, there is a lack of joint institutional efforts, let alone a coordinating body to pool institutional resources for the advancement of overseas Chinese studies. The rapid development of overseas Chinese studies and the great urgency to preserve overseas Chinese historical records, however, calls for increased institutional cooperation.

The Dr. You Bao Shao Overseas Chinese Documentation and Research Center at Ohio University Libraries was established in 1993. It was a major milestone in an attempt to systematically collect, organize, and preserve the valuable historical documents to facilitate research on the origin, patterns, struggle, ingenuity, culture, society, economic impacts, politics, and contributions of overseas Chinese in Southeast Asia. This attempt is the foresight of Dr. You Bao Shao, a visionary leader in banking, international trade, public service, and philanthropy from Hong Kong, who saw the importance and growing interest in the study of overseas Chinese as a new academic and multi-disciplinary field. Since its establishment, the Center has been actively promoting worldwide institutional cooperation through conferences and joint meetings, including this First International Conference of Institutes and Libraries for Overseas Chinese Studies.

The conference drew the attention of academic centers, research institutes, library collections, academic societies, university programs, and museums and brought together scholars, researchers, teachers, archivists, librarians, curators, and community activists from the United States, Canada, Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Russia, and Australia.

It began on Friday, March 24, with welcoming remarks provided by Robert Gliden, the President of Ohio University and Julia Zimmerman, Dean of the Ohio Libraries. The keynote addresses were given by Dr. Evelyn Hu-Dehart of the University of Colorado at Boulder whose topic was From Area Studies to Ethnic Studies: an Approach to the Study of the Chinese Diaspora in Latin America and the Caribbean and Ch’ng Kim See, Head of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies Library in Singapore, whose topic was Regional Resource Center for Information and Documentation on Southeast Asian Chinese Studies. The following plenary sessions were held in the afternoon of March 24 for panel one and two and again in the morning of March 25 for panel three and four. The conference exhibits and conclusion remarks were held  in the afternoon of March 25.

2. Plenary Sessions

2.1. Panel One: Locating, Collecting and Preserving Resources on Overseas Chinese

The main focus of this panel is to discuss how to broaden the horizon for international cooperation in locating, collecting, preserving, digitizing, and sharing resources on overseas Chinese that are currently neglected or otherwise not utilized and to prioritize the processing of cooperative collection, such as materials at the greatest or least risk.

 The following is a list of the titles and summaries of these papers.

· Newman Library and Library Cooperation on Overseas Chinese Studies

This paper was presented by the author who is a librarian and Liaison for Asian Studies and Romance Languages at Newman Library, Baruch College, the City University of New York. The paper includes a detailed description of the College, the Library, and the author’s views and recommendations regarding the cooperation on overseas Chinese studies. Her recommendations include A. Establishment of a coordinating organization or Chinese information center, B. Cooperation among academic research libraries in the United States and overseas Chinese institutions, C. Cooperative bibliographic access through a joint database searching for a directory of overseas Chinese scholars and institutions, D. Web site creation, E. Promoting scholarly communications through Listserv and joint conferences, and F. The Motion for the election of regional, state, and institutional representatives to facilitate the exchange of ideas and updating on current research activities.

· Resources and Supports for Overseas Chinese Studies in Hispanic Countries

Presented by Professor Zhiyuan Chen from Appalachian State University, the paper starts with the presentation of Asian Studies Programs at the University and gives a historical overview of the most important, the so-called “second wave” Chinese massive emigration to the Hispanic countries. The emigration occurred immediately after the Chinese Cultural Revolution and at the beginning of Deng Xiaoping’s Open Door Policy Era in China. The core of this paper includes a session on resources and supports for overseas Chinese studies in Hispanic countries. It covers recommendations for the establishment of a sub-sector of the Dr.You Bao-shao Overseas Chinese Documentation and Research Center in Hispanic countries, a list of topics for Hispanic research and projects involving joint efforts of academic institutions in Europe, Latin America, the United States, China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Logistic supports for the programs, such as conducting field studies, establishing connections with the local government, overseas Chinese associations and societies, research institutions and universities, were also described. The paper concludes with suggestions of specific publication plans and topics for further research on Hispanic Chinese Studies.

· The Museum of Overseas Chinese

Established in 1959, the Museum of Overseas Chinese is the unique institution in Xiamen, China that specializes in displaying the history and cultural relics of overseas Chinese in a systematic way. The Museum contains a Research Department, Exhibition Department, Cultural Relics Storage Department, Security Department and the Executive Office. Over 6,500 items are currently housed in the Museum, including successive dynasties’ pottery and porcelain wares, bronze wares, ancient coins, calligraphy and painting, carving crafts, ceramics and glass utensils, and animal specimens.  The library contains nearly 6,000 books and reference materials written by or about overseas Chinese and a comprehensive collection of Chinese history periodicals and newspaper clippings. The Museum actively promotes research by sponsoring publications related to Chinese education, literature, history, and foreign cultural exchanges in combination with museum exhibitions and collecting cultural and historical relics related to the themes. For issues regarding the overseas Chinese research cooperation, the Museum plans to establish the Association for International Overseas Chinese Research, the online magazine entitled International Overseas Chinese Research News and the creation of a web site to facilitate and incorporate these goals and functions.

· Chinese Community and Traditions in Canada

Ban Seng Hoe from the Canadian Museum of Civilization gives a comprehensive overview on the history of overseas Chinese in Canada, including immigration history, the formation of Chinese communities in Chinatown, including clan and lineage associations, and Chinese festivals and family traditions.  The paper concludes with recommendations on the preservation and promotion of overseas Chinese studies, with special emphasis on researching Chinese folklore traditions, immigration history, and other social contexts of Overseas Chinese in Canada. The Museum will facilitate and support scholars and researchers on future research, fieldwork, and case studies in these areas. 

· “Because you are one of us…”: Experiences of Resource Collection within Chinese Communities in Western Australia

Fiona Lee from the School of Social Sciences at Curtin University, Australia, presented this paper. It outlines the history of Chinese communities in Perth, Australia where she grew up with and provides an introduction to her doctoral thesis regarding historical and ethnographic studies of the Chinese population in Western Australia from 1970 to 2000.  Lee proposes several areas of joint research including history of changing identities in the Chinese diaspora in Australia, historical ethnography and methodology, and the study of archival sources in Western Australia.

· Ethnic Chinese Business in Nagasaki and the Formation of East Asian Business Networks

This paper describes the function and status of ethnic Chinese business networks that supported the major trade networks among East Asian harbor cities from 1850-1950.  Original documents and records, including business correspondences between the Nagasaki ethnic Chinese company, Taiyi-hao, and ethnic Chinese business establishments of other harbor cities, account books and business agenda of ethnic Chinese business and social organizations, were consulted as primary historical documents for supporting this paper. The core of this paper includes the description of overseas Chinese and ethnic Chinese studies in Japan, the ethnic Chinese social organizations in Nagasaki, the management and trade of Taiyi-hao in Nagasaki, family business networks among ethnic Chinese, ethnic Chinese businessmen and the ceramic trade and business in Nagasaki, and the multilateral trade between Hong Kong and Nagasaki.  Finally, the paper concludes with the discussion of Xiamen business network and its business connections and future trade potentials.

· The Asian Collections at Cornell University Library

The objective of this paper is to introduce the Asian collections at Cornell University. It includes an introduction to the Asian collections at Cornell in general with specific focuses on the Echols Collection on Southeast Asia and the Wason Collection on East Asia, covering its programs and resources,  as well as information on how to locate Southeast Asian Chinese literature at Cornell’s Asian collections.

· Asian American Studies Collections at the University of California, Berkeley

The Asian American Studies Collections of Ethnic Studies Library at UC Berkeley collects materials primarily on the cultural, political, and socio-economic life of Asians in America as well as other overseas countries. The ethic groups in this collection include Asian Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Japanese, Korean, South Asians (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka), and Southeast Asians (Burmese, Cambodian, Lao, Lao Hmong, Lao Mien, Thai, and Vietnamese Americans.)  The paper outlines the history of the Library, its mission, the importance of the Chinese Americans and the Chinese overseas, and the Library’s cooperative projects with other institutions, including the University of California Ethnic Studies Librarians Network, a joint grant proposal with the Bancroft Library funded by the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) of the California State Library, and its collaboration with the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco for a special photographic exhibition by Kem Lee in 1997. 

· Genealogical Sources for Overseas Chinese on Microfilm at the Genealogical Society of Utah

This paper includes an overview of the overseas Chinese historical sources, including genealogies, family histories, collected biographies, and local histories at the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) in Salt Lake City. These sources were acquired on microfilm by GSU for overseas Chinese populations in Chile, Hawaii, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Mariana Islands, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Tahiti, Thailand, and the United States. Details of the archival collection including microfilm titles, years of coverage, number of reels available, listing of surnames for genealogies, community records, cemetery titles, burial registers or permits, census records, passenger list of Chinese immigrants, history and directory of Chinese population in various U.S. states, and more. 

· Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall (Ijokaku), Japan

This paper describes the historical background of the unique museum, Sun Yat-Sen Memorial Hall (Ijokaku) that exhibits the life of Sun Yat-Sen from its birth in 1866 to its death in1925, books and records written by or about him, and other memorabilia and documents at the museum.

· Some Comments on Situation of Overseas Chinese Studies and Use of Documents in Mainland China

Professor Zhuang from Xiamen University provides his view regarding the revival of research interest and activities on overseas Chinese studies in China since 1978 due to the impact of Cultural Revolution. He identifies the major Chinese institutions and universities that are currently conducting intensive research on overseas Chinese and the unbalanced research situation and focus in terms of academic quality, fieldwork and case studies. Zhuang suggests that future research on overseas Chinese studies should focus on the following neglecting areas: the chronicle documents of Qing Dynasty, the analysis of pre-1930 Chinese publications and documents, such as local gazetteers, folk contracts, family records, tablet inscriptions, and overseas Chinese letters, as well as oral histories and other historical records from overseas Chinese intellectuals who returned to Mainland China between 1950s and 1960s.  In addition, the translation of historical documents and rare books, primarily in the Qing period, into English that will benefit both Chinese and western scholars for cross-cultural and ethnic studies on multi-disciplinary natures.

· International Collaboration, Research, Publications and Advocacy on Ethnic Chinese Issues: the Kaisa Experience in the Philippines

This paper documents the role of the Kaisa para Sa Kaunlaran (Unity for Progress) and its affiliate, the Kaisa Heritage Center, for pushing forward the minority rights in the Philippines, the historical background of the Kaisa organization, its cultural and educational activities, and Kaisa’s international cooperative research efforts in documenting, microfilming, supporting, and preserving research pertaining to the overseas Chinese in the Philippines.
 

2.2. Panel Two: Cooperation on Overseas Chinese Research Projects

The major goal of this panel is to identify the types of databases that are needed to support international scholarship on overseas Chinese and to build join databases, such as database on the publication of overseas Chinese researchers and scholars and database on overseas Chinese organizations.

The following is the list of the titles and summaries of these papers.

· The Chinese Immigration to Russia During the 1990s

Presented by Andrew Dikariov from the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, this paper analyzes the immigration trend and fieldwork done by Russian academic communities on the topics of Chinese immigration to Russia within the past decade, problems and labor market changes in the period, and economic and political perspectives in the short- and long-term bases for the nation.

· Overseas Chinese Media

Professor Hong from the State University of New York at Buffalo presented this paper. It discusses the growth of overseas Chinese population in the past decades and the vast development of overseas Chinese media. The paper then identifies the media resources on trends, problems, and challenges from the past, present, and future perspectives.

· From Students to Immigrants: An Overlooked Addition to Overseas Chinese Community

Hongshan Li from the History Department of Kent State University gives a systematic analysis of the Chinese students who came to the United States from 1950s to the present in relation to the U.S. immigration history and demographic change of the overseas Chinese communities. The paper concludes with recommendations on the cooperation of overseas Chinese community studies, including library collaboration on identifying and preserving materials relating to this particular subject area, oral history projects, comparative studies on the immigration experiences of Chinese students and Chinese laborers, and the role of electronic technologies, especially the Internet, on affecting the immigration decision of the overseas Chinese students.

· Cultural Assimilation and Community Re-organization: A New Experience of Chinese Immigrants in America after WWII

This paper elucidates new social and cultural experiences of the Chinese immigrants in America since 1945 through primary sources and personal interviews in order to document the major changes and identify a new pattern of formation and re-organization of the Chinese American community in the United States. The research was focused on the areas of Chinese immigrants’ own interactions, domestic cooperation and conflicts, and isolation or self-determination in a multi-cultural and rapid changing society.

· Introduction to the Institute for Social Sciences and Philosophy (ISSP) and Its Research Project of the History of Chinese Overseas

This paper introduces the Sun Yat-Sen’s Institute for Social Sciences and Philosophy (ISSP) of Academic Sinica in Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan. It starts with the history, organization, and current research focus of the ISSP and outlines its short-and long-term research projects and studies that are currently in progress, including a study on the overseas Chinese communities in the United States and the Pacific Region.

· Reformation of Festivals and Ethnicity Among the Overseas Chinese Communities: A Comparative Analysis of Nagasaki, Kobe, and Yokohama Chinese Communities

Wang Wei from the Institute for Advanced Studies at Chubu University in Japan presented this paper. It includes a cultural analysis of Nagasaki, Kobe, and Yokohama Chinese communities, focusing primarily on the ethnicity reformation and the observation of traditional Chinese festivals and performances. 

2.3. Panel Three: Digitizing and Sharing Resources on Overseas Chinese

The role of this panel is to facilitate and maximize resource sharing among institutes and scholars through the use of current technology, such as digitization and online cataloging projects. 

The following is the list of the titles and summaries of these papers.

· The Chinese Economists Society (CES) and the University of Michigan China Data Center

This presentation gives an introduction to the Chinese Economists Society (CES), a non-profit and academic organization established in 1985 in New York City. The purpose of CES is to promote market-based economic reform and open door policy in China and expand academic exchanges among its members to be engaged in scholarly studies of the Chinese economy. The author also gives a brief description of the University of Michigan China Data Center and his view regarding the collaboration between overseas Chinese communities and the major overseas research centers on China studies.

· Data Center of Chinese in Japan (DCCJ)

Established in 1996, the Data Center of Chinese in Japan (DCCJ) collects and preserves primary research materials published by overseas Chinese in Japan including books, serials, electronic resources as well as newspaper clippings regarding news from academic conferences, meetings, organizations, and institutes sponsored by overseas Chinese and facilitates and promotes the exchange of information among various groups. The paper includes an introduction of DCCJ, the funding history, its collections, including serials and newsletters published by DCCJ, and the description of DCCJ’s overwhelming responses from the local Japanese society.

· The Eventual Tendency: To Integrate Chinese Scientists and Engineers Into International Community of Science

Yugui Guo from Fudan University in China elucidates the historical trend of Chinese students from Mainland China studying abroad from 1840 to the present in which he divided them into “five generations” according to the shifts of Chinese government’s political and educational policies through the years. He then analyzes the major features of overseas Chinese studies about his so-called “fifth generation” students from its scope, educational level, and the rapid rise and spread of the population in North America, to the problems of brain drain. After a thorough study of the topic, he then presents the commercially based Community of Science (COS) Program, demonstrates its use and shares the database information to the conference participants.

· Active Participation to Promote Research on Overseas Chinese

This paper describes in detail the Joint Documentation and Information Center on Overseas Chinese Studies established by the University of Hong Kong Libraries and Jinan University Library in Shanghai, China. It includes a description of the Center’s subject databases, covering laws and regulations on overseas Chinese, union catalog of overseas Chinese collection in Chinese and foreign languages, and the cultural phenomena of Hakkas on CD-ROM. The following database projects are currently under development by the Center: database on the outstanding figures of overseas Chinese, database on the education of overseas Chinese, and database on overseas Chinese documentary resources. 

· Collection of Clippings on Overseas Chinese at Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) Library

Presented by Shirley Leung, Director of the Hong Kong Baptist University Library (HKBU), this paper reports the Library’s overseas Chinese clipping collection, the collection of clippings on China, and the Library’s efforts on publicizing and digitizing its collections.

· Brief Introduction to the Development of Overseas Chinese Research Database

This paper provides an introduction to the development of Overseas Chinese Research Database that is currently in progress. It is a major project undertook by the Research Institute for Overseas Chinese Studies in Jinan University, China. Initiated in late 1998, the project includes full text research papers and abstracts of books written by overseas Chinese. Entries in the collection are accessible by date, region, country, keyword, title, author, and subject.

· A Development Plan for an International Overseas Chinese Research Web Site

This paper discusses a web site creation in progress by Liu Quan, professor of the Research Institute for Overseas Chinese Studies at Jinan University, China. The purpose of the web site is to promote international collaboration in scientific research and information exchange among overseas Chinese research institutions and organizations. The project was started in middle of 1999 and will be completed and in full operation at the beginning of the year 2002.

2.4. Panel Four: Publications and Organizations

This panel covers papers and reports from international associations, academic societies, institutes, universities, and research centers that have established programs, curriculums, professional activities, and academic studies related to overseas Chinese studies. 

The following is the list of the titles and summaries of these papers.

· Report on the Activities of the Headquarters of the Overseas Chinese Association (HOCA) in Taipei, the Republic of China

This paper summarizes major activities of the Headquarters of Overseas Chinese Association (HOCA), in Taipei, Taiwan. It includes setting up a Research Publication Committee, establishing an Overseas Chinese Information Center, hosting academic symposiums, providing roundtable discussions, visiting overseas Chinese research institutes in other countries, subsidizing publication on overseas Chinese studies, publishing books and journals, and establishing funds for students conducting research on overseas Chinese studies.

· The ROC Society of Overseas Chinese Studies

Established in 1988, the ROC Society of Overseas Studies is a non-profit and academic organization that promotes history, politics, economics, and social issues of overseas Chinese studies. The membership activities, academic symposiums, and its research publications are described in this paper.

· Kobe Society for Chinese Overseas Studies, Japan

Established in 1987, the Kobe Society for Chinese Overseas Studies is a civil and non-profit organization that consists of members primarily from Kobe, Kawasaki, and Kyoto in Japan, including scholars, professors, graduate students, general publics, and local overseas Chinese people. The purpose of this Society is to promote social and historical research regarding the contributions of overseas Chinese in Japan as well as economic and political relations between Japan and other East Asian countries.

· China Institute for Ethnic Chinese History

Funded in 1984, the China Institute for Ethnic Chinese History is an academic institution in Beijing that serves as the Secretariat of the China Society for Overseas Chinese History. The Institute focuses on current research and studies on overseas Chinese economics, the relationship between overseas Chinese and local Chinese people, and contemporary Chinese immigrant studies. The Institute has convened international conferences and symposiums and published a series of books relating to overseas Chinese economic, historical, and social issues. 

· China Society for Overseas Chinese History

Established in 1981, the purpose of this academic organization is to communicate extensively with international scholars on overseas Chinese studies in order to facilitate academic research and scholarly exchanges and promote the understanding of history and current historical situation of overseas Chinese. Scholarly activities, conferences and publications of the Society are fully described.

· The Research Program on Ethnicity and Overseas Chinese Economies (RPEOCE)

Established in 1998, the Research Program on Ethnicity and Overseas Chinese Economies (RPEOCE) was funded by Tsung Tsin Association, the largest Hakka clan association in Hong Kong. The purpose of this organization is to support original research on Chinese ethnic studies, to serve as a center for the coordination of overseas Chinese communities and business organizations, to publish quality papers and scholarly publications on the topic, and to facilitate scholarly activities such as academic seminars, conferences and scholarly exchanges of overseas Chinese in Hong Kong, Mainland China, and other countries.

· Present Conditions and Future Prospect of National Chi-nan University in Taiwan

This paper includes a presentation of the National Chi-nan University which was funded at Puli, Nantou, Taiwan, in 1995. The founding history of the University, its programs and resources, and the future prospects and comments about the international cooperation on research and teaching are fully explored.

· Overseas Chinese Studies at Zhongshan University, China

This paper reports the various programs, resources, and publications from the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies at Zhongshan University in China.

· A Brief Introduction to the Association of Chinese Professors of Social Sciences (ACPSS) in the United States

The Association of Chinese Professors of Social Sciences (ACPSS) in the United States is a non-profit and professional organization found in 1995 in North America. The goal of ACPSS, its programs, activities, and professional contributions to the Social Sciences field in the United States are fully explored.

· The Overseas Chinese Research Center at Jinan University, China

Founded in 1906, Jinan University is the first university in China that provides education for the descendants of overseas Chinese and promotes research on overseas Chinese studies. The paper describes the school’s policies, academic research focuses, and its outreach programs on supporting international conferences and cultural exchanges.

· The History and Prospect of the Chinese School Association in the United States (CSAUS)

Founded in 1994, the Chinese School Association in the United States (CSAUS) is a non-profit and national organization that supports Chinese language and cultural studies for new Chinese immigrants, overseas Chinese, as well as anyone interested in Chinese language and cultural studies. The goals, activities, and programs supported by CSAUS are fully described.

· Current Situation and Development Plan for Overseas Chinese Studies at Jinan University, China

This paper outlines the resources, research projects, and the development plan for the Overseas Chinese Studies at Jinan University in China.

· The Research School of Southeast Asian Studies at Xiamen University, China

Established in 1956, the Research Institute of Nanyang at Xiamen University is China’s first research institution on Southeast Asian and overseas Chinese studies. The founding history of the Institute, educational programs, research focuses, and publications are discussed. 

3. Conference Exhibit: the Exploration Fair for Cooperative Projects

The Conference Exhibit was held on the ground level of the Conference building. The purpose of this Exhibit is to allow participating academic centers, research institutes, library collections, academic societies, university programs, museums, scholars, and librarians to highlight their strengths, accomplishments, and current goals and priorities. In the meantime, the Exploration Fair for Cooperative Projects was held to stimulate bilateral or multilateral discussions leading to the identification of projects relevant to the participating institutes and the individuals.

4. Conclusion: Establishment of a Coordinating Organization

The conference concluded with the establishment of the World Confederation of Institutes and Libraries for Overseas Chinese Studies. All conference participants are eligible members of the Confederation. Membership rights include the following: 1. Full participation of membership meetings and Confederation sponsored conferences, 2. Right to vote and being elected as the executive members of the Confederation, 3. Free or discount prices for subscription to membership newsletters and the Confederation publications. The mission of the Confederation includes: 1. Providing a necessary forum for further international cooperation, 2. Providing a coordinating body to facilitate implementation of identified projects, and 3. Pooling institutional resources to advance the field of overseas Chinese studies. The Confederation shall hold its membership meeting every two years in the place that was agreed upon by all members from the preceding membership meeting. Suggestions for agenda items on the next Confederation meeting include the creation of a web site to facilitate and promote membership activities, the publication of online scholarly journals, reports, research papers, and membership newsletters, and the building of a joint database which includes contact information for overseas Chinese organizations and names and affiliated institutions of the scholars and researchers on overseas Chinese studies. The nature, organizational structure, and bylaws of such a coordinating body was formulated and fully discussed.

1st Rev. Sept. 2000
2nd Rev. Dec. 2000
3rd Rev. Feb.  2001, jc