The Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) and its diplomatic efforts have enhanced the strengths of overseas Vietnamese in every field and increased national solidarity, a representative of the Vietnamese community in Hungary to the 8th VFF congress, which commenced on September 26 in Hanoi, has said.

Phan Bich Thien, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Women’s Association in Hungary, said the Vietnamese community organised a series of events to promote the Vietnamese people’s foreign relations in recent years.

The Vietnam Culture Day in Hungary introduced the country’s potential to the local business circle and contributed to the establishment of ties between small- and medium-sized enterprises in the two countries and the expansion of cooperation into other fields such as culture, education and sports. As a result, expats, entrepreneurs and academics in Hungary were aware of Vietnam’s potential and were keen to promote links between the two countries, she added.

After 10 years of implementing the Politburo’s resolution on overseas Vietnamese communities, organisations abroad have internalised their role in building a united expat community that preserves the Vietnamese national identity and strives to contribute to the process of nation-building back home, but also encourages its members to contribute to socio-economic development in their host countries.

Nguyen Van Thai, Vice Chairman of the Vietnamese Association in Poland, said the Vietnamese community in Poland collected funds to help the victims of natural disasters in Vietnam and taught Vietnamese to children in Poland.

Nguyen Thi My Hanh, Chairwoman of the Vietnamese Women and Youth Support Association in Germany, said the association was established two years ago and that since then the Vietnamese community had undertaken efforts to support national development in Vietnam and join local authorities and organisations on public welfare issues.

Praising the role of the VFF in promoting expats’ solidarity and strength, OV representatives said there was a need for more information on OV-related policies, laws and programmes that supported the expat community.

Vietnamese embassies should collect feedback from OVs and communicate back to the national level, Nguyen Van Thai said.

Phan Bich Thien suggested the congress devise programmes that connect OVs and clarify the front’s role, helping to promote the strength of the community.

There are approximately 4.5 million Vietnamese living and working in 103 countries and territories. They form an indispensable part of the nation and play an important role in intensifying cooperation and friendship between Vietnam and the rest of the world, the Politburo’s resolution said.

The resolution states that supporting OVs is the responsibility of the entire political system and people.

VNA/VNN