More than 400 overseas Vietnamese attended the "Dien Hong Conference" to offer advice on national development.

400 overseas Vietnamese attend conference to give advice on national development

The event, chaired by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with relevant ministries, branches and localities, has the theme "Overseas Vietnamese join hands to realize the aspiration to develop the country".

The opening session was attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, along with leaders and former leaders of the Party, State, National Assembly, Government, Fatherland Front and more than 600 delegates, including 400 overseas Vietnamese from more than 40 countries and territories who returned to the country to attend.

Hơn 400 kiều bào dự — Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits and talks with delegates attending the Conference. Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac.

Speaking at the opening session, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said that the Conference took place in the context that our entire nation is making efforts and accelerating to successfully implement the goals of the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress, striving to turn our country into a developing country with modern industry and high middle income by 2030 and a developed country with high income by 2045.

The Conference of Overseas Vietnamese around the world was held three times in 2009, 2012, and 2016 with the direct participation of more than 2,000 overseas Vietnamese delegates from many countries and territories, along with representatives of many central and local agencies across the country.

Through three times of organization, the conference has created a forum for in-depth exchange between overseas Vietnamese and those in the country on strategic issues in building and defending the Fatherland and contents related to the Vietnamese community abroad.

Valuable opinions and many policy recommendations from overseas Vietnamese have been received, studied and transformed into policies and legal regulations by domestic authorities.

To realize these goals, the important contribution of our community of more than 6 million compatriots abroad is indispensable.

For the first time, within the framework of the conference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs chaired and coordinated with relevant agencies to organize the Forum of Vietnamese Intellectuals and Experts Abroad. Minister Bui Thanh Son said that this was a direct instruction from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his official visit to Australia and New Zealand in March this year, demonstrating the Prime Minister's deep concern for the work of Vietnamese people abroad.

Minister Bui Thanh Son hopes that the 4th Conference of Overseas Vietnamese around the world will focus on collective intelligence, increase national solidarity, promote the resources, potentials and strengths of overseas Vietnamese for the development of the country, so that our compatriots at home and abroad can join hands to realize the aspiration to develop a prosperous and happy country.

Overseas Vietnamese are proud of the country's growing development and position.

Speaking at the opening session, Mr. Hoang Dinh Thang, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Associations in Europe, said that in addition to the efforts of each individual in the Vietnamese community abroad, it is necessary to emphasize the importance of the correct policies of the Party and State towards Vietnamese people abroad, the achievements in socio-economic development in the country, and achievements in the field of foreign affairs.

According to Mr. Thang, all of these factors have contributed to creating a favorable environment for the development and position of the Vietnamese community abroad.

"The overseas Vietnamese community, wherever they are, always carries deep affection for their homeland and country. We believe, are excited and proud of the country's development and increasing position. With the spirit of sharing the joys and sorrows, and working together with the people in the country, we wish to contribute more to the country's development," said Mr. Thang.

At the opening session, Mr. Johnathan Hanh Nguyen, a Filipino expatriate and Chairman of the Inter-Pacific Group, said that people-to-people diplomacy in recent years has contributed to strengthening friendly relations between Vietnam and other countries, protecting national interests, and introducing to international friends the country and people of Vietnam, and the policies of the Party and State.

"Among them, overseas Vietnamese, with more than 6 million people living in more than 130 countries and territories, are an indispensable important force, having performed well in the role of people's diplomacy, as well as mobilizing external resources for the country's development. As an overseas Vietnamese, I am proud to contribute to those achievements," Mr. Johnathan Hanh Nguyen shared.

Mr. Jonathan Hanh Nguyen expressed his hope that with the spirit of patriotism, solidarity, and always looking back to the roots, overseas Vietnamese will continue to guide the younger generation - the young generation of overseas Vietnamese, the country's outstanding young intellectuals will follow in the footsteps of their fathers and uncles to return and join hands in building the homeland, contributing to further enhancing Vietnam's position in the international arena.

From about 4.5 million people in 109 countries and territories in 2016, there are now more than 6 million Vietnamese people living and working in 130 countries and territories. Of these, the number of people with university degrees or higher accounts for about 10%, equivalent to 600,000 people.

In most areas where Vietnamese people live, associations have been established. Associations of Vietnamese businessmen, experts and intellectuals regularly have activities connecting with the country, forming a widespread network, connecting Vietnamese people both at home and abroad. Overseas Vietnamese are increasingly asserting their role and position in the local society.

Some Vietnamese people have participated deeply in the local political system at all levels; many Vietnamese businessmen are on the list of billionaires in the world; many overseas experts, intellectuals, and artists have been honored at international awards.

At the same time, overseas Vietnamese are also one of the bridges, contributing increasingly proactively and positively to promoting multi-faceted cooperation between the host country and the homeland.

In particular, overseas Vietnamese become an important resource in the process of building and developing the country.

Over the past 30 years, the total amount of remittances sent back to the country has reached more than 200 billion USD, equivalent to the amount of foreign direct investment disbursement in the same period. By the end of 2023, overseas Vietnamese had invested in 421 foreign direct investment projects with a total registered capital of 1.72 billion USD; along with thousands of enterprises with investment capital of Vietnamese people residing abroad.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/hon-400-kieu-bao-du-hoi-nghi-dien-hong-hien-ke-phat-trien-dat-nuoc-192240822105446086.htm