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| APEC 2023: The President and his wife visited the family of patriotic overseas Vietnamese Pham Van Tich and met with a number of overseas Vietnamese at Mr. Tich's private home. |
Mr. Pham Van Tich was born in 1952 in Quang Nam, in a patriotic family, with his father and uncle being Viet Minh cadres during the resistance war against France.
From a young age, he was enlightened and participated in activities to support soldiers, deliver letters, and conduct propaganda... under the guidance of revolutionary cadres.
In 1967, during a bombing, he was seriously injured and had to have both legs amputated. Later, he was fortunate to meet a group of doctors and peace-loving philanthropists who took him to the United States for treatment, among 100 seriously injured children. His health gradually stabilized and he was adopted and educated by an American family.
As a man of strong will, having witnessed the brutality and being a victim of war, with the care and encouragement of his family, he overcame adversity to study, graduate and become an expert in computer science at Berkeley University, California, but he worried day and night about ending the war in his homeland.
He participated in the organization and with many fellow students studying abroad in the United States and peace-loving Americans took to the streets to protest against the Vietnam War, and joined Mr. Nguyen Van Luy in the Association of Overseas Vietnamese in the United States, later renamed the Association of Patriotic Overseas Vietnamese in the United States.
After the country was reunified, he continued to actively work, mobilize donations in the context of the country's difficulties, and support Vietnamese delegations and diplomatic agencies in the early days of their establishment in the United States.
Mr. Tich is now old and frail, but his family is still a warm home for many generations of Vietnamese students studying in the Oakland, California area.
In a warm and friendly atmosphere, the President happily informed about the important achievements and new developments of the country in constantly improving people's lives; maintaining national defense and security; as well as the continuous growth in Vietnam's diplomatic relations with 193 countries around the world.
Notably, the Vietnam-US relationship has just been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership, thereby creating conditions and enhancing the position of our compatriots living and working in the United States.
Faced with the country's changing face, the President expressed his appreciation for the patriotism and fighting spirit of patriotic overseas Vietnamese in the previous anti-war movement.
The Party and State will never forget the contributions of overseas Vietnamese, as well as American friends who silently participated in the anti-war movement, making a huge contribution to the cause of national liberation and reunification.
At the same time, the President acknowledged the long tradition and contributions of overseas Vietnamese and the Association of Patriotic Overseas Vietnamese to the formation and development of the Vietnam Resident Mission to the United Nations, especially in the early, extremely difficult days.
Up to now, despite their old age, many overseas Vietnamese still always turn their hearts towards their homeland, becoming one of the important bridges, actively contributing to the good development of relations between the two countries.
With a tradition of ardent patriotism, the President hopes that generations of overseas Vietnamese will continue to promote that spirit, proactively informing our community in the United States, especially the second and third generation of young overseas Vietnamese, to better understand the situation of the country and the policy of great national unity of our Party and State.
In particular, the Vietnamese community abroad in general and our compatriots in the United States in particular are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese national community.
The President hopes that the Vietnamese community in the United States will continue to unite, abide by the law, and continue to make positive contributions to the development of the United States, the bilateral relationship between the two countries, as well as the cause of protecting, building, and developing the homeland of Vietnam.
Before saying goodbye to Mr. Tich's family and overseas Vietnamese to continue the activities of the working trip, President Vo Van Thuong once again thanked the warm welcome given to the President, his wife and the delegation, and wished the overseas Vietnamese and their families good health and happiness.
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