Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng, who is also Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA), attends the inauguration ceremony for the “Vietnamese bookcase” in Paris. VNA Photo

PARIS – Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng, who is also Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA), has met representatives of the Vietnamese community in France and attended a ceremony to launch an event honouring the Vietnamese language in Paris.

At the July 20 meeting, Hằng lauded contributions by Vietnamese in the European country to the homeland over the past time, and briefed them on national socio-economic development.

The Vietnamese Party and State always pay attention to overseas Vietnamese (OVs), and encourage them to look towards the homeland, the official affirmed, adding the committee has played an active part in reviewing relevant policies and laws, and proposing amendments and supplements so as to ensure rights and interests of Vietnamese abroad across spheres.

The work will be stepped up in the time ahead to meet their aspirations and create favourable conditions for them to return home for investment and business, she continued.

Ambassador Đinh Toàn Thắng informed the official on diverse activities of the Vietnamese community in the host country, including those aiming to preserve the Vietnamese language and other traditional values.

According to the diplomat, the Vietnamese language event is to honour associations and individuals for their contributions to preserving and promoting the mother tongue to nurture national pride among youths as well as people from all walks of life in France.

Representatives of the Vietnamese community in France expressed their hope for more support from the COVA in preserving and spreading the Vietnamese language among the OVs, especially in France.

Angot Rabin, a teacher of Vietnamese at the Association of Vietnamese in France, pointed to challenges to teaching the language, including the lack of suitable documents, and noted his hope for more training courses for teachers.

In this regard, Hằng urged relevant associations to carry on the spirit of solidarity and coordinate with Vietnamese representative offices to bring Vietnamese together and preserve and promote the Vietnamese culture and language, thus contributing to the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries.

On this occasion, she attended the inauguration ceremony for the “Vietnamese bookcase” jointly held by the COVA and the Educational Publishing House, as part of the Government’s project honouring the Vietnamese language among the OVs for 2023-2030.

While in France, Hằng also had a meeting with representatives of Vietnamese associations in Bordeaux, during which she pledged to increase scholarships to Vietnamese children abroad to support their Vietnamese language learning. VNA/VNS