Proposal to recognize Vietnamese community as ethnic minority in Australia

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his wife and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation visited officials and staff of diplomatic missions and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Australia - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Australia welcomes Prime Minister with special ceremony

Reporting to the Prime Minister and the delegation, Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam emphasized that the Prime Minister's visit this time is of special significance, opening a new chapter in the relationship between the two countries, with the two countries announcing the upgrading of diplomatic relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. The Australian side gave the Prime Minister and the delegation a very respectful and thoughtful reception, with special diplomatic ceremonies beyond the usual level.

Providing information on some highlights of the bilateral relationship, the Ambassador said that so far, 4/8 Australian states and territories have established trade representative offices in Vietnam. Vietnam is among the top 10 destinations for Australian tourists, with 32,000 Vietnamese students studying in Australia.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that the Party and State always pay attention to the Vietnamese community abroad. Resolution 36 of the Politburo clearly stated that Vietnamese people abroad are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese national community - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

More and more overseas Vietnamese intellectuals are actively returning to their homeland, contributing to the development of the country and bilateral relations. The Ambassador mentioned the outstanding activities and contributions of Vietnamese associations in Australia, such as the Association of Vietnamese Intellectuals and Experts, the Vietnamese Students Association, the Vietnam Innovation Network, the Vietnam Entrepreneurs Association, etc. The Vietnam and Australia Policy Institute was recently established at RMIT University.

Opinions at the meeting expressed gratitude for the attention and support of the Party, State and Embassy to the Vietnamese community; affirmed that our compatriots in Australia always promote the tradition of solidarity, "mutual love", help each other to stabilize their lives and always look back to their roots and homeland with the spirit of "remembering the source of water when drinking".

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife with Vietnamese people at Canberra airport - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

With about 350,000 Vietnamese people in Australia, this is the 3rd largest overseas Vietnamese community after the United States and Japan, the 5th largest foreign community in Australia, Vietnamese is also the 4th most popular language here and has been introduced into all high schools as a foreign language.

Mr. Tran Ba ​​Phuc, Chairman of the Vietnamese Business Association in Australia, said he traveled 700 km from Melbourne to Canberra to attend the meeting. According to him, the Vietnamese community in Australia is considered quite successful, well-integrated, and increasingly successful. "The Vietnamese community abroad always looks towards the homeland, because we cannot change the shape and heart of Vietnam within us," he said emotionally.

The Prime Minister shared with overseas Vietnamese the fundamental factors and major features in the policy of building and protecting the Fatherland so that our country can continue to develop rapidly and sustainably, for the goal of a strong and prosperous country and increasingly prosperous and happy people - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Opinions expressed joy at the country's strong development in recent years with the very strong and effective leadership, management, direction and administration of the Party and State.

"The country remains steadfast in the face of storms. The Government and the Prime Minister have shown courage and determination, with messages such as 'getting down to work right away', 'only discussing doing, not backing down', 'don't say no, don't say difficult, don't say yes but don't do'... and always listen receptively," emphasized Associate Professor Chu Hoang Long, President of the Vietnamese Scientists' Club in Canberra.

Officials and staff of the Vietnamese Embassy, ​​representatives of international students and overseas Vietnamese in Australia welcomed Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at Canberra airport - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Associate Professor Chu Hoang Long recalled the memory that, right after the Prime Minister deployed the COVID-19 vaccine strategy while travel was almost completely restricted, in order to contribute to the response, representatives of the Vietnamese community sent a request letter and received a response from the Australian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This contributed to Australia becoming one of the countries that provided the most support for vaccines to Vietnam.

Overseas Vietnamese also expressed their excitement at the upgrading of relations between the two countries, opening up new opportunities in trade and developing the Vietnamese community; at the same time, they made a number of proposals and recommendations to create more favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to promote their role as a bridge between the two countries and contribute more to their homeland. In particular, Associate Professor Chu Hoang Long proposed establishing a State award for Vietnamese scientists abroad.

Overseas Vietnamese expressed their excitement at the upgrading of relations between the two countries, opening up new opportunities in trade and developing the Vietnamese community; and made a number of proposals to create more favorable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to promote their role as a bridge between the two countries and contribute more to their homeland - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

'Always worthy of being Vietnamese, always proud to be Vietnamese'

Emotionally sharing with the delegates, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the presence of a large number of overseas Vietnamese and the statements at the meeting all demonstrated high responsibility, sincere feelings, inspiration, and motivation for the members of the working delegation to continue to strive to complete all assigned tasks.

The Head of Government affirmed that the Party and State always pay attention to the overseas Vietnamese community. Resolution 36 of the Politburo clearly stated that overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese national community. On this occasion, the Prime Minister thanked the overseas Vietnamese community for their important and positive contributions to the country's overall achievements.

Reviewing the country's great achievements in development, foreign affairs and integration, the Prime Minister emphasized that in the 20th century, perhaps no country suffered as much pain and loss as Vietnam, but we have risen up and achieved great and historic achievements after nearly 40 years of renovation. Our country "has never had such a foundation, potential, position and international prestige as today".

The Prime Minister and his wife presented souvenirs to the Vietnamese Embassy and representatives of the Vietnamese community in Australia - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Besides, our country still faces many difficulties and challenges. Vietnam is still a developing country, the economy is in transition, starting from a low point, modest in scale, limited in resilience and competitiveness but limited in openness, a small external impact can also have a big impact on the internal.

The Prime Minister shared with overseas Vietnamese the fundamental elements and major features of the policy of building and protecting the Fatherland so that our country can continue to develop rapidly and sustainably, for the goal of a strong and prosperous country and increasingly prosperous and happy people.

Regarding bilateral relations, the Prime Minister said that Vietnam and Australia have just upgraded their diplomatic relations to the highest level – Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and during their visits, Australian leaders always mentioned the Vietnamese community. The implementation of the new cooperation framework between the two countries will also contribute to improving the material and spiritual life of Vietnamese people here.

The Prime Minister hopes that people will continue to join hands and unite to build a united, developed and strong community; carry out more practical activities towards the roots, contributing to the cause of national construction and development... - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

In particular, the Prime Minister suggested that Australia consider recognizing the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son added that Australian leaders acknowledged, highly appreciated and said they would actively consider this idea.

Responding to the overseas Vietnamese’s proposals, the Prime Minister expressed his hope to build an innovation community in Australia; assigned the Ministry of Science and Technology to research and propose to competent authorities about science and technology awards for overseas Vietnamese.

The Prime Minister hopes that people will continue to join hands and unite to build a united, developed and strong community; uphold national pride, strive to improve, actively integrate, comply with the law and contribute to local development; continue to be an increasingly solid bridge in bilateral relations; preserve and promote the national cultural identity and Vietnamese language; have more practical activities towards the roots, contributing to the cause of national construction and development.

The Prime Minister asked the Vietnamese Embassy to continue to pay attention and do better in the work of overseas Vietnamese with the spirit of "treating the work of overseas Vietnamese as one's own work, considering overseas Vietnamese as one's own relatives" - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister hopes that overseas Vietnamese, no matter where they live, will first take care of themselves and their families, and then turn to their homeland and country. "We are always worthy of being Vietnamese and always proud to be Vietnamese," the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister requested the Vietnamese Embassy to continue to pay attention and do better work for overseas Vietnamese with the spirit of "treating the work of overseas Vietnamese as one's own work, considering overseas Vietnamese as one's own relatives".

According to VGP

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/de-nghi-cong-nhan-cong-dong-nguoi-viet-la-dan-toc-thieu-so-tai-australia-2257196.html