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Overseas Chinese living in Southeast Asian countries often experience ambivalent feelings when they visit China on business trips. At first the visitors are happy to emphasize the differences that set them apart from the native Chinese. This condescending attitude often gives way to a desire to know more about Chinese language and national characteristics, a process labeled re-sincisation by some. However, some Overseas Chinese remain indifferent to their ethnic roots even after visiting China. In short, relations between Chinese at home and abroad remain unsettled.

The 20,000-strong Chinese community of Mauritius recently took the spotlight from their well-off Franco-Mauritian compatriots when the World Chinese Conference was held at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute in Moka. Chinese in Mauritius have been greatly responsible for a healthy Mauritian economy with their success in the Export Processing Zone and the conference served to celebrate their heritage. The World Chinese Conference certainly reflects an upsurge in overseas Chinese nationalism.