当地时间2024年5月13日，哥斯达黎加首都圣何塞市陆续迎来了出席第十二届世界中山同乡恳亲大会的各界嘉宾。

近20个国家和地区的600多位中山籍华侨华人、港澳台乡亲，以及全国政协、国务院侨办、广东省侨办、中山市政府派出的代表将开启为期3天的恳亲之旅，共同见证世界中山同乡恳亲大会（简称世恳会）第一次在中南美洲举办的时光。

当地时间5月13-15日举办的第十二届世恳会，由哥斯达黎加华侨华人华裔协会、哥斯达黎加中山同乡会、旅哥中山协会、旅哥中山联谊会共同筹备举办，并得到中哥工商联合总会、哥斯达黎加中国友好协会、旅哥斯达黎加中华总会等38个当地友好侨团支持，超过30个海外侨团组织代表将围绕大会主题“中山情 拉美缘 经贸桥 中国梦”开展恳亲联谊、经贸洽谈、营商推介、文化交流、青年合作等系列活动。

得闻消息，遍布世界各地的中山籍华人华侨代表纷纷发来祝贺，预祝大会圆满成功。其中包括哥斯达黎加华侨华人华裔协会、全美俊英工商总会、夏威夷中华总商会、夏威夷檀香山隆都从善堂、法国中山同乡联谊会、荷兰中山同乡会、挪威广东商会、哥伦比亚华侨华人联谊会、澳洲中山同乡会、西澳广东同乡会暨总商会、日本中山横滨乡友会、香港中山社团总会、澳门中山同乡联谊会、中山市留学人员联谊会等团体的代表。

世界中山同乡恳亲大会创办于1996年，首次举办是在马来西亚。至今已在马来西亚吉隆坡，美国檀香山、旧金山，中国香港、中山、澳门，澳大利亚悉尼，加拿大温哥华，新加坡，斐济等十地举办，发展成为集“民间外交、经贸洽谈、学术研讨、文化交流、恳亲联谊、寻根溯源”为一体的大型国际性活动，形成了较强影响力与美誉度，举办周期为3年一届，在中山设有世恳会联络处。

12th Worldwide Zhongshan

Association Convention Opens 

On May 13th, local time, San Jose, the capital city of Costa Rica, welcomes guests from all walks of life attending the 12th Worldwide Zhongshan Association Convention. From 13th to 15th, more than 500 overseas Chinese whose hometown is Zhongshan, from nearly 20 countries and regions will gather together. Representatives from the CPPCC, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the State Council, Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province, and Zhongshan Municipal Government will also attend the event to congratulate and witness this important moment, as it is the first time such a conference is held in Central and South America. Upon hearing the news, representatives of Zhongshan overseas Chinese from all over the world have sent their congratulations and best wishes for a successful convention.

Worldwide Zhongshan Association Convention was founded in 1996. It has developed into a large-scale international event that integrates "people-to-people diplomacy, economic and trade negotiations, academic seminars, cultural exchanges, family reunions, and seeking roots". It has gained strong influence and reputation. The convention is held every three years and has a liaison office in Zhongshan.