Speaking at a national conference in Hanoi on December 25 to review the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution 36 on overseas Vietnamese affairs, the Prime Minister urged stronger efforts to connect and mobilise overseas Vietnamese as a vital part of national development.

He outlined major strategic breakthroughs in enhancing national unity both domestically and internationally while protecting the legitimate rights and interests of overseas Vietnamese, building a sustainable overseas Vietnamese community that grows rapidly in size and strength, and mobilising all possible resources to contribute to national development.

He also stressed the importance of continuously improving institutions, policies, and laws to facilitate overseas Vietnamese participation in political, economic, and social life, while ensuring their rights and recognizing their ideas and initiatives in policymaking.

The Prime Minister underscored the need to innovate engagement programmes, establish comprehensive databases, and build technology-driven communication channels to connect the community with the homeland. Incentives should be provided to attract intellectuals and experts abroad, alongside efforts to protect citizens and community members.

He affirmed that, with unified effort under the Party’s leadership, Vietnamese people worldwide can contribute to building a peaceful, prosperous, and modern Vietnam.

The conference noted that the overseas Vietnamese community has grown significantly over the past 20 years, from 2.7 million people in nearly 90 countries in 2004 to nearly 6.5 million in more than 130 countries today, with about 80% residing in developed nations. They have increasingly played prominent roles internationally and are recognised for their contributions.

Overseas Vietnamese annually send around US$15 billion in remittances, invest in projects totaling US$1.729 billion, and actively preserve Vietnamese language and culture. About 600,000 overseas Vietnamese with higher education actively contribute to science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in Vietnam. Ten networks of innovation and professional experts have been established across 22 countries, numbering more than 2,000 members.

Representative Tran Ba Phuc, Chairman of the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia, highlighted that Resolution 36 has strengthened the diaspora’s connection to Vietnam and encouraged the community to bring knowledge, technology, and clean energy to the country. He noted that each overseas Vietnamese acts as a cultural ambassador and defender of national interests abroad.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy suggested connecting diaspora intellectuals with specific development projects, particularly in strategic technology sectors, to create startups and strengthen the domestic application of knowledge and innovation.

Overseas Vietnamese contributes ideas for nation's rapid, sustainable development

Dr. Phan Bich Thien, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Women’s Forum in Europe, has given her opinions on draft documents for the 14th National Party Congress, hailing the documents’ focus on building a nation with rapid, sustainable development, prosperity and happiness.