Returned overseas Chinese, Chinese residents abroad, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan funded the building of 56 primary schools in the Chinese mainland in 2010, announced the eighth plenum of Overseas Chinese Federation (OCF) Wednesday.

The 56 primary schools were built with donations channeled through an OCF project. Since the OCF started the project in 2000, 1,350 primary schools had been established.

Lin Jun, the president of OCF, said at the conference, "This year, we will also expand the use of donations to other areas such as building clinics and drinking water supply facilities."

Also, 1,506 students from poor families who had their tuition fees and other related costs paid for by returned overseas Chinese and Chinese living abroad, had completed their high school studies in 2010, said Lin

The students each received 2,500 yuan (379.7 U.S. dollars) a year for three years of high school study.