President: Overseas Vietnamese are an important factor in people's diplomacy

President Vo Van Thuong said many overseas Vietnamese who have become famous abroad have become important bridges between Vietnam and the world, and are important factors in people-to-people diplomacy.

"Although living far from the Fatherland, our compatriots always nurture and promote the spirit of patriotism and national pride, preserve cultural traditions and look back to their roots," President Vo Van Thuong said in front of more than 1,500 overseas Vietnamese at the Spring Homeland 2024 art exchange program on the evening of February 2 (December 23), at Thong Nhat Hall, Ho Chi Minh City.

President Vo Van Thuong congratulates overseas Vietnamese on Tet in the Homeland Spring program on the evening of February 2. Photo: TTX — President Vo Van Thuong congratulates overseas Vietnamese on Tet in the Homeland Spring program on the evening of February 2. Photo: *TTX*

According to the President, many overseas Vietnamese have succeeded and become famous in various fields, making positive contributions to the host country, becoming an important bridge between Vietnam and the world. This is an important factor in people's diplomacy, actively preserving and spreading national cultural values, building the image of Vietnam abroad, contributing to enhancing the country's position and prestige in the international arena.

There are currently nearly 6 million Vietnamese people living in 130 countries and territories. President Vo Van Thuong assessed that many have affirmed their own values, are exemplary individuals, have prestige and influence in the overseas Vietnamese community, and are highly appreciated by the host countries.

The President said the Party and State hope that overseas Vietnamese will develop their potential, strengths, and creativity, achieve many successes, have stable lives, have a more and more stable legal, economic, and political status, and integrate deeply into the society of the host country. The success of each overseas Vietnamese always brings joy and pride to the Fatherland.

According to the President, the Vietnamese community today is becoming increasingly diverse with the succession of many generations. He expressed his hope that young people will always be attached to and look towards their homeland, speak Vietnamese, and be proud of their Vietnamese origins and the nation's fine traditional values.

"We share the same origin, are all descendants of the Dragon and the Fairy, so we must overcome prejudices and disagreements to join hands in building with a spirit of openness, respect, sympathy and mutual trust. We must work together to achieve national harmony for the bright future of the country and the people...", the President said.

The President and his wife with artists performing at the Homeland Spring program. Photo: TTX — The President and his wife with artists performing at the Homeland Spring program. Photo: *TTX*

Earlier, at a meeting to honor outstanding overseas Vietnamese, Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said that despite many difficulties in the past year, overseas Vietnamese have made efforts to adapt, stabilize their lives and continue to contribute to their homeland.

As of November 2023, there were 421 projects of overseas Vietnamese in 29 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with a total registered capital of over 1.72 billion USD. According to the State Bank of Vietnam, remittances in 2023 are estimated to reach 16 billion USD, an increase of 32% compared to 2022. The amount of remittances transferred to Ho Chi Minh City reached nearly 9.5 billion USD, an increase of 43.3% over the same period. This is the highest growth rate in the past 10 years.

The Spring Homeland Art Exchange Program 2024 will feature many famous domestic and overseas Vietnamese artists. This is part of the Spring Homeland program that will last for two days, February 1-2.

On the morning of February 2, President Vo Van Thuong and his wife, along with more than 100 overseas Vietnamese, performed the carp release ceremony to send off Ong Cong and Ong Tao at Ben Nha Rong, District 4. The delegation also participated in a number of activities such as experiencing Metro Line 1, attending a discussion on Resolution 98 on special mechanisms for Ho Chi Minh City...

Spring in the homeland is a spiritual gift for the community of nearly 6 million Vietnamese people living, studying and working abroad. This is also an opportunity for Vietnamese leaders to listen to the thoughts and aspirations of overseas Vietnamese around the world, as well as to honor groups and individuals who have made many contributions to the country.

Le Tuyet

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