OVERSEAS VIETNAMESE AFFAIRS
The State President emphasized their continued importance as bridges actively contributing to the positive development of relations between the two countries.
State President Vo Van Thuong urged the Vietnamese community in the US to stay united, abide by the law, and actively contribute to the development of both nations.
The State President and the family of Vietnamese overseas Nguyen Van Tich in Alameda District, California. Source: VNA
The Vietnamese State President made these remarks while visiting the family of Pham Van Tich and other representatives of the Vietnamese Overseas on November 15 in San Francisco. This occurred during the leader's visit to the city to attend the APEC 2023 Summit.
Pham Van Tich, born in 1952 in Quang Nam to a patriotic family with a father and uncle who were Viet Minh officers during the resistance against the French, became involved in supporting soldiers and engaging in activities such as delivering letters and propaganda at a young age under the guidance of revolutionary cadres.
In 1967, he suffered serious injuries in a bomb attack, leading to the amputation of his legs. Fortunately, he was brought to the US for treatment among 100 seriously injured children, where he was adopted and educated by an American family. Despite being a witness and victim of war brutality, Tich overcame adversity, pursued education, and became a science expert, studying computing at the University of Berkeley, California.
Actively participating in protests against the Vietnam War alongside international students and peace-loving Americans, Tich joined the Overseas Vietnamese Association in the US, later renamed the Overseas Vietnamese Patriotic Association. After the country's reunification, he continued to work actively, mobilizing donations to support Vietnamese delegations and diplomatic agencies in the challenging early days of their establishment in the US. Despite his age and frailty, Tich's family remains a home for many generations of Vietnamese students in the Oakland, California area.
In a warm and friendly setting, President Vo Van Thuong joyfully shared significant achievements and developments in Vietnam's continuous efforts to improve people's lives, maintain national defense and security, and enhance diplomatic relations with 193 countries worldwide.
Notably, the Vietnam-US relationship has recently been elevated to a comprehensive strategic partnership, providing favorable conditions for Vietnamese people living and working in US, noted Thuong.
The President underscored that the Party and State will always remember the support of overseas Vietnamese and American friends who quietly contributed to the anti-war movement, playing a substantial role in the nation's liberation struggle and unification.
Acknowledging the rich traditions and contributions of overseas Vietnamese and the Overseas Vietnamese Patriotic Association to the establishment and early development of the Vietnam Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the President emphasized their continued importance as bridges actively contributing to the positive development of relations between the two countries.
The President encouraged future generations of overseas Vietnamese to uphold the spirit of patriotism and actively disseminate information within their community in the US, particularly targeting the younger second and third generations of overseas Vietnamese.
The aim is to enhance their understanding of the country's situation and the comprehensive national unity policy of the Party and State, Thuong said.
Emphasizing that the Vietnamese community abroad, and specifically those in the US, is an integral part of the Vietnamese ethnic community, the President hoped for continued unity, adherence to the law, and active contributions to the development of the US, bilateral relations between the two countries, as well as efforts to protect and build both the US and Vietnam.
Before bidding farewell to Tich's family and the overseas Vietnamese community to resume the activities of the visit, President Thuong expressed gratitude once again for the warm welcome. He extended wishes for the good health and happiness of overseas Vietnamese and their families.
Earlier that morning, President Vo Van Thuong visited the Hospital and Medical Research Center of Stanford University.
Expressing joy at the visit to Stanford University, renowned for training many accomplished scientists, doctors, politicians, lawyers, and business leaders, as well as being associated with numerous Nobel Prizes and impactful initiatives, the President highlighted his impression of the research conducted at Stanford Hospital. This research encompasses disease prevention and control, the development of new cancer treatments, and measures for disease screening, all contributing significantly to human healthcare.
Referencing a key aspect of the newly established comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the US, which involves cooperation in caring for, protecting, and improving human health, the President expressed the hope that the hospital will collaborate with Vietnamese partners in this vital field.
Ngoc Mai