Over the past 20 years of implementing Resolution 36 of the Politburo on the affairs of overseas Vietnamese, the community has consistently received special attention and support from the Party, State leaders, ministries, departments, local authorities, and citizens in Vietnam.

General Secretary and President To Lam with a delegation of prominent overseas Vietnamese at the Fourth World Overseas Vietnamese Conference and the Forum for Vietnamese Intellectuals and Experts Abroad.

The suggestions and recommendations from the overseas Vietnamese have been acknowledged by relevant domestic agencies, gradually being translated into practical policies that impact everyday life.

At the recent meeting with prominent overseas Vietnamese attending the Fourth World Overseas Vietnamese Conference, General Secretary and President To Lam echoed the beloved words of President Ho Chi Minh: "The country needs the collective effort of all Vietnamese, both at home and abroad. Overseas Vietnamese, please unite to build a prosperous Vietnam that stands shoulder to shoulder with the great powers of the world."

With this statement, the top leader of the Party and State emphasized that overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of the nation, a vital resource for the Vietnamese community, and a key factor in strengthening international cooperation. This sentiment is consistently conveyed by leaders in every interaction and meeting with overseas Vietnamese returning to their homeland.

Many overseas Vietnamese remember the heartfelt words of General Secretary and President To Lam: "Our country has achieved the results mentioned above mainly because of the alignment of the Party's intentions with the people's will, the collective effort of the entire Party, people, and military, including the valuable contributions of overseas Vietnamese..."

The community was moved by his assurance that the Party, State, and people of Vietnam always welcome and facilitate their return for family visits, tourism, investment, and business activities, while actively listening to and incorporating their contributions and suggestions for national development.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and delegates at the Fourth World Overseas Vietnamese Conference. 

In his speech at the 2024 Forum for Overseas Vietnamese Intellectuals and Experts, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed messages of hope for the overseas Vietnamese community's role in national construction and defense.

The Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude to experts and scientists who have achieved excellence in various fields, bringing honor to the country, and demonstrated a commitment to “listening deeply, seeing clearly, and understanding thoroughly” the aspirations and concerns of overseas Vietnamese.

He emphasized: “When we speak of the overseas Vietnamese community, we refer to those who, despite being far from the homeland, always nurture and promote patriotism and national pride, and contribute both spiritually and materially, even sacrificing blood and sweat for the nation’s cause of liberation, unification, and current national development... Protecting the legal and legitimate rights of the overseas Vietnamese community is the responsibility of the Party, State, ministries, local authorities, and the entire political system.”

Over the past 20 years, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other central and local agencies, as well as political and social organizations, have actively collaborated to develop policies and programs to support overseas Vietnamese in stabilizing and improving their lives. They have also encouraged expatriates to contribute to national development, in line with Resolution 36.

With the theme “Overseas Vietnamese join hands to realize the aspiration for national development,” the World Overseas Vietnamese Conference received nearly 100 contributions from domestic agencies, Vietnamese missions abroad, and the expatriate community, covering valuable insights on high technology, economics, trade, investment, national unity, legal policies, culture, and the Vietnamese language.

Notably, during this conference, expatriate businesses and organizations signed 10 Memoranda of Understanding with domestic agencies, organizations, and companies in areas such as technology transfer, workforce training, and communication. At this event, often considered the “Dien Hong Conference” of overseas Vietnamese, Minister of Science and Technology Huynh Thanh Dat highlighted that the key to a nation's success in development is intellect and human resources. He expressed hope that overseas Vietnamese intellectuals and experts will actively contribute to scientific, technological, and innovative activities.

Minister Huynh Thanh Dat is confident that with the Party and State's determination to create breakthrough policies and the active participation of overseas Vietnamese experts, Vietnamese science will drive industrialization and modernization. In many regions, such as Ho Chi Minh City, the work with overseas Vietnamese has become increasingly important, with expatriates emerging as significant resources for investment and development.

According to Vu Thi Huynh Mai, Head of the Overseas Vietnamese Committee in Ho Chi Minh City, the city currently has over 3,000 businesses invested by overseas Vietnamese with capital exceeding VND45 trillion, attracting more than 400 expatriate intellectuals for long-term work, and nearly 200 intellectuals involved in research cooperation in training, science, and technology.

In recent years, Bac Giang Province has actively participated in events for overseas Vietnamese organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese missions abroad, and the expatriate community. These events have allowed Bac Giang to connect with outstanding overseas Vietnamese, exchange information, and express a desire to attract their interest in the province's development.

Nguyen Thi Sam, Deputy Director of the Vinh Phuc Department of Foreign Affairs, noted that the province is working to establish effective mechanisms for receiving, processing, and applying overseas Vietnamese initiatives, quickly creating a legal framework to attract investment from expatriates and utilize their technology and expertise for industrialization and modernization.

Beyond working with localities, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have become a warm and supportive home for the expatriate community, always standing by their side.

With the spirit of “to go far, we must go together,” Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, Le Thi Thu Hang, is confident that with the Party and State’s profound attention, the active involvement of the entire political system, and the collective effort of both domestic and overseas Vietnamese, the work with overseas Vietnamese will continue to develop and achieve greater milestones based on the solid foundation of 20 years of implementing Resolution 36.

The contributions of the overseas Vietnamese community to their homeland have left a significant mark, and despite ongoing challenges, Resolution 36 remains a guiding principle for the path ahead.

Ngoc Mai

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