A meeting with Vietnamese nationals living overseas was held by Radio the Voice of Vietnam (VOV) in Hanoi on February 9.

Speaking at the meeting, VOV Deputy Director Le Dinh Dao reviewed the country’s remarkable achievements in 2006 and highlighted overseas Vietnamese’s significant contributions to the Doi Moi (Renewal) process during the past 20 years.

At the meeting, Vietnamese nationals living overseas shared their feelings and opinions on issues relating to domestic administrative reform so as to increase the efficiency of investments run by overseas Vietnamese, house ownership in Vietnam, visa exemption under the Nationality Law and teaching of Vietnamese language for young Vietnamese generations abroad.

According to the Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, approximately 15,000 Vietnamese expatriates will return home for the lunar New Year Festival (Tet) this year.

The State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) said that overseas Vietnamese sent US$4.5 billion remittance to their relatives in 2006 to help them develop production activities and improve their living standards. Many overseas Vietnamese organisations and Vietnamese individuals living aboard have assisted Vietnamese people in overcoming the recent typhoon aftermath.

Overseas Vietnamese praised the country’s great efforts to integrate into the world economy during the past year and expressed optimistic views on investment opportunities after Vietnam joined the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

On this occasion, the State presented the Independence Order, First Class to Vietnamese nationals living in Thailand.

Pham Van Chi, an overseas Vietnamese from Thailand said that overseas Vietnamese living far from home like him always turn their hearts to Vietnam and want to make greater contributions to national construction and development.