The shift was made, on the one hand, in the hope that overseas Chinese could enter the social mainstream of their host countries, leaving the realm of rejection and suspicion. On the other hand, the policy also helped China in its attempt to establish friendly relations with the nations of Southeast Asia.
之所以有這樣的重大轉變，一方面固然是希望僑胞藉此進入僑居國主流社會，不要再處處遭受疑慮、排擠；一方面也符合中共與東南亞鄰邦修好、敦睦邦誼的用心。