Ties with Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) are a vital part of the nation’s external policy, Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh said at a recent meeting to review the five-year implementation of the Politburo’s Directive on tasks and goals to boost the implementation of its 2004 resolution on issues relating to OVs.

Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Binh Minh
speaks at the meeting (Photo:VNA)

“Vietnamese living in other countries are an inseparable part and an important source of strength for the entire Vietnamese people,” the Vietnamese politician outlined, adding that in every high-level meeting held with foreign representatives, local leaders always ask authorities from the host country to provide support for the Vietnamese community.

In line with this, numerous mechanisms and policies had been issued and implemented in an effort to create more favourable conditions for OVs, he said, noting that that the Government is striving to tap into the great resources that come from a young Vietnamese demographic based abroad.

Amid the complex situation created by the global spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the spirit of leaving no one behind can be seen through various policies throughout the year, with the Government arranging repatriation flights to bring home more than 53,000 people from more than 50 countries and territories worldwide. Along with this, the competent handling of the COVID-19 pandemic domestically has strengthened the confidence of OVs in the Party and the State, Deputy PM Minh stated.

Despite these positive trends, there remains shortcomings that must be addressed concerning relations with OVs, including the slow promulgation of policies and instructions relating to the implementation of policies, along with the mobilisation of resources from OVs which has yet to reach its full potential.

Deputy Foreign Minister Dang Minh Khoi, who is also serving as Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, said the number of Vietnamese living abroad increased from 4.5 million people in 109 countries and territories in 2015 to 5.3 million in 130 countries and territories by 2019.

As of October of this year, OVs from 27 countries and territories had invested in 362 foreign direct investment projects throughout the country, with a total registered capital of US$1.6 billion, Deputy Minister Khoi said.

Between 2015 and 2019, remittances totaled a figure of US$71 billion. Indeed, remittances from OVs will reach approximately US$15.6 billion this year, according to a forecast released by the World Bank.

Most notably, OVs have always responded positively to calls for increased donations and support for local people in overcoming the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and natural disasters, as can be seen by their response to recent historic levels of flooding and storms which hit central Vietnam, Deputy Minister Khoi said.

“Many initiatives to marshal and connect Vietnamese intellectuals from abroad to contribute to national development have been proposed and implemented,” the Deputy Minister explained.

Evidence for this can be seen as enterprises owned by OVs have helped to promote plenty of the country's products, culture, and image to international friends.