National conference reviews overseas Vietnamese affairs

In her opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang emphasized that Resolution 36, issued in 2004, has served as a guiding principle and marked a significant turning point in overseas Vietnamese affairs, especially in strengthening national unity.

After 20 years of implementation, the resolution has demonstrated its sustainability and practical value, particularly as Vietnam deepens its integration into the global community, she noted.

Hang highlighted the resolution’s notable achievements, including raising awareness, reinforcing the responsibility of the political system and the community towards overseas Vietnamese affairs, fostering unity among Vietnamese people, strengthening ties between overseas Vietnamese and the homeland, unlocking resources, and leveraging contributions from remittances, investments, and intellectual input to support the country’s sustainable development.

The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs continues its role as a bridge to accompany the overseas Vietnamese community worldwide, and this connection is not only a source of strength to unlock the vast potential of over six million Vietnamese expatriates but also contributes to building national unity and advancing sustainable development, said Hang.

Taking the floor, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son highlighted the critical role of the overseas Vietnamese community in building and promoting national unity and making significant contributions to the country's development and international standing.

Over the past 65 years, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs has always stood shoulder to shoulder with the overseas Vietnamese community worldwide, effectively fulfilling its role in uniting, supporting, and leveraging the resources of the expatriates, stressed Son.  

He commended the committee’s efforts in implementing breakthrough policies and organizing meaningful activities, such as the forum for Vietnamese intellectuals and experts abroad, homeland programs, and cultural and Vietnamese language preservation initiatives.

He particularly praised the committee’s coordination in developing key policies, including Resolution 36, creating favourable legal foundations to deepen the expatriates’ connection to the homeland and harness their intellectual and economic resources for the fatherland’s sustainable development.

Given the global complex developments, Son emphasized the necessity of innovating overseas Vietnamese affairs, with a particular focus on strengthening the dissemination of policies and guidelines on the affairs, translating policies into practical outcomes that meet the legitimate aspirations of overseas Vietnamese and leveraging their resources for national development; enhancing the legal status and stabilizing the lives of the community while supporting cultural and Vietnamese language preservation.

He also proposed increasing cooperation between domestic and overseas agencies and mobilizing the entire political system to engage in overseas Vietnamese affairs.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed his belief that, with the solidarity of more than six million overseas Vietnamese and the unwavering efforts of domestic agencies, overseas Vietnamese affairs would continue to achieve remarkable successes, affirming Vietnam’s position in a new era of development.