GUIYANG - Overseas Chinese language media have been playing a very important role in Chinese cultural inheritance and transnational exchange, senior leader Liu Yunshan said in his letter hailing the opening of the Eighth Forum on the Global Chinese Language Media on Saturday.

Liu, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, said he congratulated on the 200th anniversary of the birth of the first overseas Chinese language media.

The destiny of overseas Chinese language media has been closely interrelated with the fate of Chinese people, and they have been vigorously promoting the development of overseas Chinese people communities, Liu said.

Liu said he hopes overseas Chinese language media will give full play to their advantages in future, so as to better tell stories of the Chinese nation, spread Chinese voice and enhance the friendship between China and the other countries.

A total 454 overseas Chinese language media from 63 countries and regions have attended the forum.

The forum, co-sponsored by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, government of Guizhou province and China News Service, will last from Saturday to Sunday in Guiyang, capital city of Guizhou province in Southwest China.