He was speaking at a get-together last week with the overseas Vietnamese community in Belgium and neighbouring counties in East Flanders province where the Accenta International Trade Fair and "Vietnamese Days in Belgium" took place.

Attending the get-together were the Governor of East Flanders province, Andre Denys, Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium Phan Thuy Thanh, and more than 200 overseas Vietnamese residing, working and studying in Belgium.

Mr Tuyen said that the overseas Vietnamese form an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation and that a number of them are conducting effective business operations in their homeland.

The minister also acknowledged their charitable activities to help victims of Agent Orange (AO) and natural disasters, as well as orphans and disabled people in Vietnam.

According to Governor Andre Denys, the Vietnamese community in Belgium has played a very positive role in strengthening the relationship between the two countries.