BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on the Western Returned Scholars Association to rally talent from around the world and pool strengths of creativity for the development of the cause of the Party and the country.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks in a congratulatory letter to the association, which is celebrating its 110th founding anniversary.

In his letter, Xi, on behalf of the CPC Central Committee, expressed warm congratulations to the association and extended sincere greetings to overseas Chinese students and scholars and workers providing services for relevant personnel.

Xi expressed appreciation for the association's contribution in uniting overseas Chinese students, calling on the association to continue to play its role as a talent pool in serving the country, a think tank of good ideas and proposals and a vital force in people-to-people diplomacy.

He also expressed hope that overseas Chinese students and scholars would carry forward their patriotic tradition, serve the people, stay confident, break new ground and forge ahead, and maintain an open and inclusive mind to promote the exchanges and mutual learning between China and other countries.

A gathering to celebrate the association's 110th anniversary of establishment was held in Beijing on Saturday. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, attended the event and made a speech.

Wang called on overseas Chinese students and scholars to keep Xi's requirements in mind, calling on the association to better rally overseas students and scholars around the Party.

Shi Taifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and head of the United Front Work Department of the CPC Central Committee, read out Xi's letter at the gathering.