近年来，习近平主席提出“一带一路”国家战略，旨在积极发展与沿线国家的经济合作伙伴关系，共同打造政治互信、经济融合、文化包容的利益共同体、命运共同体和责任共同体。“一带一路”战略的落实和实施，需要动员各种积极力量，而人数众多、经济实力雄厚的华侨华人是其中不可忽视的重要力量之一。他们可以在政治、经济和文化层面发挥重要作用，有助于“一带一路”战略在沿线国家和地区落地生根。政治上，他们可以真实宣传中国的国家形象，推动中国与居住国良性互动，并准确传达“一带一路”建设的内涵。经济上，他们是推动东南亚各国现代化进程的重要助力，还能为中国经济发展，特别是招商引资和助推中国企业“走出去”和实现国际化发挥重要作用。文化上，他们是传播中华文化的重要力量，也是介绍东南亚等国的优秀文明到中国的重要渠道。同时，通过他们，可以搭建人文交流网络，倡导文化共同体的建立。不过，由于海外华人大多已加入居住国的国籍，属于居住国的公民，他们在“一带一路”建设中的作用，既要顾及祖籍国的利益，也要考虑居住国的利益；此外，海外华人在“一带一路”建设中，也受到中国与居住国关系的影响。因此，我们应理性看待他们所发挥的作用，既不要高估他们的力量，但也不要忽视他们的作用。
“The Belt and Road Initiative” is one of the most important of China’s national strategies proposed by President Xi Jinping in recent years. It contains the following aims based on mutual political trust，economic integration and cultural inclusiveness：to actively develop economic partnership with countries along this belt and road，and to build a community that shares interests，responsibilities，and a future. The implementation and development of “the Belt and Road Initiative” requires involving all possible forces，and with their large population and strong capital overseas Chinese are one of the most important forces. They can play their special roles in political，economic and cultural aspects and push “the Belt and Road Initiative，” helping it to take root in the countries and regions along the Silk Road. Froma political perspective，overseas Chinese can shape a true national image of China，promote positive interaction between China and its neighboring countries，and all while accurately conveying the implication of “the Belt and Road Initiative”. From an economic perspective，they are not only the strongest assisting power in the process of modernization in Southeast Asia and other countries，but continue to bring investment to China and help Chinese enterprises “go out” and accomplish internationalization. From a cultural perspective，they are the great force spreading Chinese culture throughout the world，and they are also the main channel in introducing the brilliant civilizations of Southeast Asia and other countries to China. Meanwhile，cultural exchange networks and cultural communities can be set up through the aid of overseas Chinese. However，because a majority of overseas Chinese have joined the nationalities and become the citizens of their residential countries，they have to take the interests of their country of origin into consideration as well as those of their countries of residence. Therefore，the relations between China and its neighboring countries will also have a huge influence on the roles of overseas Chinese. Therefore，we must reflect on their unique roles in a rational way and not underestimate or overestimate their roles.
