Minh made the statement while chairing a conference held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant authorities to discuss the five-year implementation of Directive 45-CT/TƯ on promoting the implementation of Resolution No. 36-CT/TƯ on OV affairs in the contemporary context.
Speaking at the conference, Minh, who is also a Politburo member, stated that, after 35 years of Doi Moi (renovation) and international integration policies, Vietnam has achieved positive results, including the development of the Vietnamese community abroad and their important contributions to the country, evidence of the prudence of the Party and State's undertakings and policies towards OV, including Directive 45-CT/TƯ by the Politburo.
Over the past five years, the thorough grasping and implementation of Directive 45 has been carried out in a serious and synchronous manner, Minh said, adding that the policy "OV are an inseparable part and resource of the Vietnamese nation” has come to life. In high-level foreign affairs activities, Vietnamese Party and State leaders regularly meet with overseas Vietnamese, while suggesting leaders of host countries pay more attention to supporting Vietnamese communities in their countries.
Accordingly, many mechanisms and policies have been issued and implemented in the direction of creating more favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese. The mobilisation of the Vietnamese community abroad has been improved with increasingly diversified forms. The promotion and usage of resources from overseas Vietnamese has been focused, while the work of teaching and learning Vietnamese, as well as preserving and promoting national cultural and traditional identities has achieved positive results.
Policies on citizen protection, which have been implemented intensely in recent years, have also contributed positively to improving the efficiency of OV affairs, according to Minh. With the complicated conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the spirit of "leaving no one behind", the Party and State promptly took measures to support and organised 190 flights to bring over 53,000 stranded Vietnamese citizens and those with difficult circumstances home from more than 50 countries and territories. Anti-epidemic results in the country together with a concern for fellow citizens abroad have affirmed the pre-eminence of Vietnam’s political system and the good nature of the regime, Minh stated.
In a changing international and regional context, with higher requirements for domestic socio-economic development and international integration, OV work will need an even stronger, comprehensive and deeper transformation, he suggested.
The FM proposed the conference offer feasible measures to amend and supplement the current regulations to facilitate the OV and ensure their legitimate rights and interests, while coming up with solutions to promote and attract their talents and resources, especially in regard to intellectuals and experts in key fields.
He also asked the delegates to discuss the improvement and efficiency of mechanisms for gathering, listening to and responding to OV suggestions and aspirations towards policies of the Party and State to improve the quality of research and policy making regarding OV affairs in the coming years.
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Deputy Prime Minister cum Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh presents the “For the cause of diplomacy” insignia to outstanding individuals at the event. (Photo: baoquocte.vn)
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Dang Minh Khoi, who is also Chairman of the State Committee on Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, said that Directive 45 has been carried out synchronously and comprehensively both at home and abroad, contributing to boosting OV affairs on all fronts. The Vietnamese community abroad is growing in number and expanding around the globe. From 4.5 million people in 109 countries and territories in 2015, up to now, the Vietnamese community abroad consists of about 5.3 million people living and working in over 130 countries and territories, with their role, position and reputation being increasingly enhanced.
As of October 2020, expatriates from 27 countries and territories had 362 direct investment projects in Vietnam with a total registered capital of US$1.6 billion. From 2015 to 2019, the total remittance reached more than US$71 billion. OV always accompany, respond positively and participate in donation campaigns to support their compatriots at home in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters and preventing and fighting against extraordinary challenges such as COVID-19.
Many initiatives to gather and connect Vietnamese intellectuals abroad have been proposed and implemented. Many OV enterprises have promoted trade and brought domestic goods to international markets, as well as promoting the country's culture and image to international friends.
OV associations continue to be strengthened and developed, contributing to strengthening solidarity in the community, preserving and spreading national cultural identity and traditions and serving as a friendship bridge between Vietnam and foreign countries. The belief of the OV community in the country's development, along with national pride in each and every OV has been strengthened.
At the conference, Deputy PM Minh awarded the "For the cause of Vietnamese diplomacy" insignia and Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to outstanding individuals and units for their achievements in the construction and development of Vietnamese diplomacy and OV affairs during the 2016-2020 period.
