More young overseas Chinese enter politics to lend voice to compatriots  

70、80后海外华裔成政坛新常客 为华人争更多权益

23岁的英国华裔议员、30岁的美国华裔市长、31岁的巴黎华裔副区长……如今，华裔参政早已不是什么新鲜事，能不能创造住在国华裔从政的最年轻纪录才算得上看点。后浪推前浪，“70后”、“80后”的年轻华裔们已成为海外政坛的新常客。[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- More and more young people of Chinese origin participate in the political life of countries in which they have settled down and make noticeable achievements, according to the international edition of People's Daily.

Olivier Wang and Weiming Shi, both Chinese French, were elected as district councilors in Paris in late March. Besides origins, their ages, both at 31, have drawn people's attention. Evan Low, the youngest Asian American mayor in the country, is also of Chinese descent, and born in the 1980s.

Unlike their fathers or grandfathers, most of these young people were born abroad.

Obtaining better knowledge of local political culture and social life, and by using the local language as mother tongue, they can participate in politics with skill and ease.

Mayor of Cupertino in the US, Gilbert Wong, who was the country's first Chinese mayor, said second or third generation immigrants, just like him, had less of a language barrier to contend with, and better vision than their parents.

Polegate councilor Daniel Shing from the UK, aged 26, said that being born in the country has helped him learn a lot about the local culture ever since being a kid in school.

Young people start their political careers in areas where Chinese constitute quite a large share of the local population. Wong's Cupertino district is made up of 28 percent Chinese residents, the highest among cities in the country.

The need for rights and social status are part of the impetus for more young people to participate in local affairs.

A female representative in Los Angles said she took her job to better serve the ethnic Chinese community. "I didn't know much about politics, but the opportunity to serve my fellow countrymen made me give up my business and take the post."

Participation in local politics is not only focused on fighting for Chinese interests, but also a way to prove that it's possible to do good job in such circles, Daniel Shing added.