The 2019 World Zhoushanese Congress is held on Zhujiajian Island in Zhoushan on Nov 11. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

The 2019 World Zhoushanese Congress was held on Nov 11 in Zhoushan, East China's Zhejiang province. The event was the first of its kind in the city.

Zhoushanese refers to anyone in the world whose hometown is Zhoushan.

The event attracted close to 500 attendees, most of whom are successful Zhoushanese who returned to their hometown from all over the world to discuss the city's development.

The remaining attendees consist of those who work or study in Zhoushan and representatives of companies and organizations that have been cooperating with the city.

The event was held by the Zhoushan municipal Party committee and government and consists of several different sections, including an opening ceremony for the congress, an award ceremony recognizing Zhoushanese who have contributed to the city's development, a signing ceremony for investment and talent introduction projects, and a summit forum on the development of the city.

Several honorable Zhoushanese guests made speeches at the beginning of the opening ceremony.

Chai Songyue, former governor of Zhejiang province, said that the city has many precious opportunities for development and would be able to enjoy a promising future if only Zhoushanese from around the world would work with the city government.

Zhang Donghui, a physical chemist and academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that he will do everything in his power to help develop the city's chemical industries.