The Vietnamese People’s Association in Paris has successfully organised their 11th conference with the election of a new leadership to make the association’s activities more effective to meet all targets set for the coming three-year term. A Voice of Vietnam Radio reporter interviewed new association chairman Vo Si Dan.
Reporter: You have been elected Chairman of the Vietnamese People’s Association in Paris. What do you think about this?
Mr Dan: I have been one of the people involved with overseas Vietnamese movements since the association was established and I have always followed the domestic situation. I have gained all association members’ confidence from veteran to younger generations. Therefore, I am willing to undertake this heavy task. With solidarity and confidence from association members, I will try my best to fulfill all tasks entrusted to me during the 2006-2009 term.
Reporter: What are the programmes and action plans you and other members from the new leadership will work on to promote the association’s activities?
Mr Dan: The conference focuses on two major tasks of boosting national construction and reinforcing community solidarity which are our action programmes. To reach this goal, it is essential to mobilise strengths from members and the Vietnamese community in France and renew the association’s activities. Therefore, we have restructured the association’s personnel organisation by electing a new leadership with experienced members and established a consultancy board with qualified people. By doing this, we hope that we are able to perform future tasks better with greater contributions from overseas Vietnamese to boost national development.
Reporter: What will the association do in the near future?
Mr Dan: Vietnam is developing in all fields. The State has always considered Vietnamese people living overseas as an integral part of the nation, thereby offering preferential policies for them to contribute to the homeland. These policies have paid off, providing encouragement to the overseas Vietnamese people. For the association, we will help overseas Vietnamese to visit the homeland, closely follow socio-economic development in Vietnam and help young overseas Vietnamese further understand their culture. This will help build a bridge between the overseas Vietnamese and the homeland.
Reporter: What is your assessment of Vietnam’s changes in the recent years?
Mr Dan: The fact is that Vietnam is developing strongly. Recent events, including Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), its successful hosting of the APEC meeting in Hanoi in mid-November, as well as its being nominated as the only regional candidate for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council in the 2008-09 term, have shown Vietnam’s great efforts to overcome challenges as well as its increasing role in the international arena. Vietnam’s prestige has become well-known around the world. This stems from the country’s political and social stability, robust economic development and strong solidarity. All overseas Vietnamese people clearly saw these changes when they visited the homeland and expressed their confidence in the development of the country.
Reporter: Thank you.
