Nauruan President traces ancestral root in China's Guangdong, eyeing closer bonds

From July 7 to 8, 2025, Nauruan President David Adeang visited Jiangmen, Guangdong Province, on a journey with his family to trace his ancestral roots in China. This trip by President Adeang pays homage to his ancestors, marking his return to Guangdong since his visit to the province in 2024— a testament to the close ties between China and Nauru.
 
The delegation visited Chikan Ancient Town and Zhongxinli Natural Village in Kaiping, where official verification confirmed that President Adeang's maternal great-grandfather originated. His ancestors "emigrated to Southeast Asia for livelihood approximately a century ago, later relocating through multiple transitions before settling in Nauru."
 
At Zhongxinli, the President reunited with his maternal grandaunt, with a family member noting simply, "We're cousins."

 

Nauruan President David Adeang meets his ancestral family in Chikan, Kaiping

The President's children expressed profound connections during the visit. His son, Chaka Adeang, remarked, "It's my first time in China, and this is where I came from. It's very different." At Chikan Ancient Town, he observed, "Very cool. It's so different from where I come from, Nauru. It's very old, but still the shops are opening," adding emotionally, "I feel a bit excited because I know that I'll come to China to visit where they (my ancestors) came from and hopefully visit them as well."
 
The President's daughter, Magna Adeang, shared, "It's really fun. It's really pretty, too," specifically praising cultural elements "like the dragons (lion dance)," and stating, "I feel like I'm from here; I feel like I'm part of here."

  

Nauruan President David Adeang tours Chikan Ancient Town on a tram with his family

Third child Deane Adeang, who identified himself as "the third child, second son of the president," explained: "I'm here with my family, and we are recently trying to reconnect with our ancestral roots, which are from here in Guangdong. And we're enjoying our time so far." Regarding bilateral relations, he noted: "The relationship has been quite positive. Your people have been very friendly. They helped us look for our ancestral records, and they've been more than helpful with any questions that we may have about our family."
 
At the China Qiaodu Museum of Overseas Chinese, where the family examined the legacy of Jiangmen-born migrants, President Adeang wrote in the guestbook: "This is a remarkable history. I learned so much today. Thank you all, and I sincerely wish you prosperity and well-being."

 

Nauruan President David Adeang visits the China Qiaodu Museum of Overseas Chinese in Jiangmen

Norma Chow, the President's mother's sister, revealed, "I haven't seen the President for the past 12 years. So he brought me down to China just to meet up with the family," noting that she resides in Brisbane. She took the trip to China as a chance to reconnect with her family and highly recognized the friendship between Nauru and China.
 
In addition, the delegation paid respects at Su'an Retreat Residence with tree planting and visited Situ's Library and Chikan Ancient Town via tram.

 

President Adeang engages with students at Situ's Library, Kaiping

Over the past few years, China has been strongly engaged with Pacific Island Countries in scientific research and smart technology. President Adeang also visited the China-Pacific Island Countries Disaster Prevention Cooperation Center at Wuyi University, which has delivered tangible benefits since its 2023 inauguration.
 
President Adeang was introduced to cutting-edge solutions transforming regional resilience, ranging from AI to multirotor drones, for disaster risk monitoring and emergency support. He also conversed with international students from the Pacific Islands on the campus.
 
Reporter & Script: Guo Zedong

Video, Cover & Photo: Guo Hongda

Editor: Yuan Zixiang, James, Shen He