Wu Tianwei. [Photo by Li Xusheng]

A few manuscripts, curled, are piled on the desk, while all issues of the Dong Zhen Overseas Edition since 1987 are placed in chronological order on the windowsill. For Wu Tianwei, chief editor of the Dong Zhen Overseas Edition, the most enjoyable thing is to write reports and stories regarding overseas Chinese affairs.

The 82-year-old retired as a Chinese teacher in 1997. The next year, he was invited to hold the post of chief editor of the Dong Zhen Overseas Edition.

In 2016, Wu led several of his colleagues to re-compile the History of Overseas Chinese in Torch Development Zone. The 600,000-words book, containing a rich diversity and quantity of historical materials, was finally published in January 2018.

In Wu Tianwei's mind, the overseas Chinese journal (Dong Zhen Overseas Edition) is a bridge to the works regarding overseas Chinese, and a carrier conveying the local voices and news to overseas Chinese communities. Therefore, Wu led his colleagues in actively making contact with families and relatives of overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese, and overseas Chinese organizations and regularly sent them the journals.

"At present, we mainly send the journals to overseas Chinese (groups) in the United States, Canada, Australia and Peru. Dozens of overseas Chinese groups such as the Duck Sen Benevolent Association in San Francisco, the Shon Yee Benevolent Association in Canada and the Chung Shan Society of Australia can receive our journals," Wu said.

Besides, Wu Tianwei always personally receives overseas Chinese and helps them look for their family roots.

Wu's contribution to the compiling of the overseas Chinese journals and overseas Chinese affairs has obtained public affirmation. He was once honored as "Advanced Worker of Overseas Chinese Journals in Guangdong". In 2016, he was awarded an honorary certificate by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese.