MVFA President Tran Thi Chang in a cultural exchange activity between the two countries. (Photo: NVCC)

From advocating the establishment of the overseas Vietnamese's liaison board in Malaysia to the Vietnamese Women's Union in Malaysia, and now MVFA, is this a significant advancement in the development of the Vietnamese community's organizational activities?

The authorization of MVFA by the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs is a crucial step in legalizing the activities of the overseas Vietnamese community in Malaysia. It facilitates the development of people-to-people exchanges and contributes to strengthening bilateral relations.

The Association's activities aim at deepening and further enhancing the cooperative relationship between the people of the two countries and between Vietnamese and Malaysian agencies and organizations. This includes enhancing cooperation in political, economic, and socio-cultural fields; promoting mutual visits to exchange ideas and implement mutually beneficial projects; advocating and supporting Vietnamese nationals to abide by local laws, as well as protecting their legitimate rights and interests...

As an organization representing the Vietnamese community in Malaysia, we also serve as a bridge between the overseas Vietnamese community and the Vietnamese Embassy, encouraging members to preserve and maintain national cultural traditions in Malaysia and remain connected with the homeland.

What are the the Association's notable activities to attract member participation and bring a new energy to the community?

Currently, the Association has about 200 members, both Vietnamese and Malaysian, with a group of advisors consisting of prominent Malaysian intellectuals.

We are actively involved in major events for Vietnamese community in Malaysia, such as community Tet celebrations, Hung Kings' Commemoration Day, International Women's Day on March 8, Mid-Autumn Festival, Vietnamese Women's Day, promoting Vietnamese culture, tourism, cuisine, providing free medical check-ups, holding community football tournaments...

For example, in coordination with the celebration of the 78th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (1945-2023), the 66th anniversary of Malaysia's National Day (1957-2023), and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam-Malaysia diplomatic relations (1973-2023), with the permission of the Vietnamese Embassy in Malaysia and the support of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, we organized the MVFA Concert night to serve the Vietnamese community.

This free art program is an attractive and exciting event that the Association wants to offer to all community members, helping them to set aside the hustle and bustle of life, to enjoy and relax after hard-working days.

Especially, despite being far from our homeland, in response to the tragic fire in a mini-apartment in Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi, the Association quickly wrote an article calling for the Vietnamese community in Malaysia to provide urgent support for the victims.

During a working trip to Vietnam, our delegation arranged to fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi, directly visiting Bach Mai Hospital, where 27 victims of the fire were being treated, to deliver gifts and share their difficulties.

Does the Association focus on promoting Vietnamese products in Malaysia and collaborating with Vietnamese businesses to seek market development opportunities there?

MVFA brings together many members working in various fields and professions, including Malaysian and Vietnamese entrepreneurs. With the immense potential in the economy, culture, and tourism of both Malaysia and Vietnam, we want to collaborate with the ministries, businesses, and the embassies of both countries to promote the image of the country, its people, and Vietnamese products in Malaysia.

On October 31, at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (MITEC), MVFA and the ASEAN Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) - organizer of the Malaysia ASEAN Export Trade Exhibition (MASTEX 2024) - signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote cooperation between Malaysia and Vietnam in the fields of culture, tourism, and trade.

MASTEX 2024, scheduled from January 23-26, 2024 at MITEC and organized by ACCI, will focus on sectors such as food and beverages, tourism, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing machinery, agriculture, and finance.

There are also special sectors, like green and digital economies, high-tech, environmental, social and governance (ESG), the Halal industry ecosystem, and creative products.

MASTEX 2024 is an important platform for businesses in ASEAN member countries to boost trade relations.

ACCI President Sohaini Shahadan hopes that based on the recently signed Memorandum, ACCI and MVFA will collaborate in trade connection events. Accordingly, in 2025, we may organize an ASEAN Export Trade Exhibition and Conference.

MVFA members in community activities. (Photo: NVCC)

The Party and the State are actively working to harness the resources of overseas Vietnamese for national development. As a distinguished Vietnamese actively involved in various associations, what are your views and ambitions regarding contributions to your homeland?

I highly value the Party and State's policy of attracting the resources of overseas Vietnamese for the country's development.

Currently, there is a significant number of highly educated Vietnamese living abroad. Attracting this group to contribute to the nation-building efforts would be very beneficial. Many people are willing and ready to contribute, but specific policies are needed to encourage these individuals to contribute their expertise and investment…

Additionally, the State should implement policies to retain young intellectuals in Vietnam to prevent brain drain.

Personally, working at the National Heart Institute of Malaysia, I always hope for the continuous improvement of healthcare in Vietnam, and for the enhancement of the skills and knowledge of Vietnamese doctors and medical staff, to ease the burdens of patients. For this reason, I have become a link in the cardiology specialty between the National Heart Institute of Malaysia and Vietnam.

Besides my efforts to serve the Vietnamese community in Malaysia, I have facilitated connections for professors and doctors from the National Heart Institute of Malaysia to perform charitable heart surgeries in Vietnam at hospitals like Bach Mai Hospital, Viet Duc Hospital, Hanoi Heart Institute, Quang Ninh Provincial Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Tam Duc Heart Hospital, Cho Ray Hospital, and Vinmec Hospital.

Moreover, I have also facilitated opportunities for doctors to go to Malaysia for advanced professional training and assisted Vietnamese patients in seeking medical treatment in Malaysia.