On the afternoon of October 23 (local time), in Kazan, Russia, during his visit to attend the 2024 BRICS Leaders' Summit, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with the Vietnamese community in Russia.

The Prime Minister and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Russia. 

At a meeting with the Prime Minister, Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Dang Minh Khoi emphasized that the Vietnamese community in Russia has a long-standing history, closely linked to the historical relationship between Vietnam and the former Soviet Union, now Russia. The community has grown stronger, with stable lives, reinforced legal status, and social standing, always maintaining ties with their homeland.

In recent times, the embassy has made significant efforts in citizen protection, ensuring the highest security and safety for the community, supporting them in living, working, and integrating well into the local society. The embassy has also organized various activities to unite the community in building a stronger bond with their homeland.

The embassy has worked to maintain and strengthen Vietnam-Russia relations in the current situation, focusing on research and economic diplomacy. It has made numerous recommendations to enhance bilateral relations, especially in economic and trade cooperation, and has implemented various measures to support businesses.

Do Xuan Hoang, Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Russia, expressed pride in the continuous and comprehensive development of the homeland. Recent high-level Vietnam-Russia exchanges have created favorable conditions for the Vietnamese community in Russia.

The Vietnamese community in Russia, currently numbering around 70-80 thousand people, is resourceful and well-established. Particularly, Vietnamese entrepreneurs in Russia have shown great adaptability.

Le Huynh Duc, President of the Vietnamese Students Association in Russia, noted that Russia is the first country where both the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and the Vietnamese Students Association are present. Russia currently has 128 youth union chapters with 3,200 members, and each year more than 200 outstanding members are recommended for Party membership.

The community has actively preserved and promoted Vietnamese culture, contributing to the nation's image abroad. Recently, they also provided support for compatriots in Vietnam affected by Typhoon No. 3, demonstrating solidarity.

Speaking at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh conveyed the best wishes from General Secretary To Lam and other Party and State leaders to the embassy and the Vietnamese community in Russia.

The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the community’s efforts, resilience during challenges such as COVID-19, and geopolitical and strategic competition.

He emphasized that despite difficulties, the community has upheld the spirit of self-reliance, continued to thrive, and made their mark. He highlighted the long-standing, deep, and comprehensive relationship between Vietnam and Russia, which is cherished by both sides.

Throughout historical ups and downs, the solidarity between the two nations has remained strong, a valuable legacy in bilateral relations. The people of the former Soviet Union and now Russia have provided significant support to Vietnam in both its struggle for independence and its current development efforts.

Many Vietnamese students, including key leaders like General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and President Tran Duc Luong, were trained in Russia. These individuals have made significant contributions to Vietnam’s development.

The Prime Minister affirmed that Vietnam regards Russia as a top priority partner in its independent, self-reliant, and diverse foreign policy. Russia is a trusted friend and partner, actively contributing to the international community.

Overview of the meeting. 

The Vietnamese community in Russia shares common characteristics with other overseas Vietnamese communities, such as a strong will to succeed, solidarity, and intelligence, all contributing to the promotion of Vietnam’s image. However, the community in Russia has its own unique features, with a diverse range of activities and many prominent entrepreneurs who studied and worked in Russia.

The Prime Minister stressed the importance of securing a solid legal status, ensuring a stable life, and integrating well into Russian society. He expressed confidence that not only the first generation but also the second and third generations of Vietnamese in Russia will continue to grow and succeed.

Regarding Vietnam's current situation, the Prime Minister noted that despite challenges, the country’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity have been maintained, with strengthened national defense and security. The economy has remained stable, inflation controlled, and growth promoted, with positive economic balances in terms of revenue expenditure, trade, food security, and energy. GDP growth for 2024 is expected to exceed 7%, among the highest in the region and globally.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) remains a bright spot, with $25 billion in registered capital and $17 billion in disbursement in the first nine months of 2024, the highest in many years.

Social welfare has been ensured, and both material and spiritual living standards for the people have improved. Vietnam’s foreign relations have been active, contributing to national development and security.

The Prime Minister reiterated the Party and State’s view that overseas Vietnamese communities are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation. The government continues to improve policies on land, immigration, and citizenship to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the community and to facilitate their development in both quality and quantity.

He commended the efforts of the embassy and consulates in overcoming difficulties and fulfilling their foreign policy and citizen protection duties, as well as their role in supporting community development.

The Prime Minister urged the embassy to maintain 24/7 hotlines and quick response teams to support the community in emergencies. He also assigned specific tasks to ministries and agencies to address the community’s proposals.

Additionally, he instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to build a database on overseas Vietnamese to better understand their situation and implement appropriate policies. The Prime Minister also suggested recognizing overseas Vietnamese individuals and groups who have made positive contributions to the community, the country, and Vietnam-Russia relations.

Ngoc Mai

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