Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng. — VNA/VNS Photos

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng, chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, talks to Vietnam News Agency, giving a general assessment of overseas Vietnamese resources and key tasks to promote this great resource for the country's development.

Could you please give an overview of the role of overseas Vietnamese in contributing to the development of the country in recent years?

Vietnamese living abroad are a valuable and highly potential resource that can make significant contributions to the country's development. Since 2003, the Vietnamese diaspora has expanded from 2.7 million to approximately six million, exhibiting a noteworthy growth rate of around 5 per cent annually. Overseas Vietnamese are currently living in more than 130 countries and territories around the world, with over 80 per cent in developing countries.

The Vietnamese community abroad not only continues to integrate more deeply but also increasingly asserts its position, making specific contributions to both the host country and nurturing friendly relations. This community plays a role in promoting trade cooperation, enhancing the image of Việt Nam's people and culture.

There are four key fields where we can promote the resources of the overseas Vietnamese to contribute to building the homeland.

First of all, this community has significant resources of knowledge, science and technology, and highly skilled professionals.

About 10-12 per cent of the nearly six million overseas Vietnamese, roughly 600,000 people, hold university degrees or higher.

Among them are many renowned scientists, specialising in areas where Việt Nam has demand, such as information technology, electronics, telecommunications, machinery manufacturing, control engineering, biotechnology, space technology, new materials, nanotechnology, energy, economic management and finance.

The Vietnamese workforce going abroad for employment not only contributes financially but also becomes a valuable source of skilled labour for the country. Most workers have stable jobs after returning home. Some are able to establish businesses and production facilities.

In terms of economic resources, Vietnamese entrepreneurs are present in almost every country and territory worldwide. They wield economic influence that is increasingly impactful, not only on the Vietnamese diaspora but also on the local governments. Vietnamese entrepreneurs abroad represent the most active force in facilitating the penetration of Vietnamese products into diverse global markets. They play a pivotal role in creating distribution networks through numerous trade centres, organisations, or industry-specific business associations. This is particularly evident in the promotion of strong sectors such as textiles, footwear, agricultural products, food items and handicrafts.

According to recent statistics, overseas Vietnamese from 35 countries and territories have invested in 385 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in 42 out of 63 provinces and cities in Việt Nam with a total registered capital of US$1.72 billion.

Additionally, there is also investment capital from overseas Vietnamese returning to the country in other indirect forms or in the form of domestic investment. Investment and business activities of Vietnamese people abroad have contributed to promoting socio-economic development, creating jobs for local workers and increasing tax revenue for the State budget.

Furthermore, the remittance amount sent to Việt Nam, calculated from 1993 to 2022, has exceeded $190 billion, nearly equalling the disbursed FDI during the same period. Remittances sent to the country have consistently increased each year, even amid the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Việt Nam has consistently ranked among the top 10 countries receiving the most remittances in the world for several consecutive years.

The overseas Vietnamese community is increasingly integrating into the host societies, holding stronger positions and participating in the political system at different levels such as federal and state legislators, city councils in countries like the United States, Germany, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. The number of individuals of Vietnamese origin involved in and holding significant positions in international organisations is also on the rise. This serves as a crucial foundation, contributing to building trust and deepening cooperation between Việt Nam and the people, political leaders of nations, and international organisations.

Many Vietnamese individuals living abroad, serving as representatives or executives in non-governmental organisations, have been actively involved in supporting charitable and humanitarian activities within Việt Nam. Their contributions have played a role in poverty reduction, sustainable development and the international integration of the country.

Despite differing political perspectives and attitudes, the overseas Vietnamese community's shared spirit towards the homeland is evident in their desire to contribute to the protection of the country's sovereignty over its territory and seas. Foundations such as the Vietnam Sovereignty Fund for Seas and Islands and the Club for Trường Sa have been established in many places such as South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Poland.

Representative overseas Vietnamese delegations regularly visit Trường Sa Island, organised by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs since 2012, attracting special attention and enthusiastic participation from the community.

The overseas Vietnamese community increasingly serves as a cultural bridge, promoting cuisine, language, and enhancing the country's image, contributing significantly to connecting, strengthening foreign relations, fostering people-to-people exchanges, and cultural interactions between Việt Nam and countries worldwide.

For many years, overseas Vietnamese have also actively participated in charity programmes initiated within the country. Many delegations and volunteer projects organised by overseas Vietnamese directly support and provide gifts to regions of the homeland facing difficulties, making a significant contribution to the country's achievements in poverty reduction and hunger alleviation over the past nearly 40 years of renewal. They promptly mobilise contributions and support during natural disasters, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Overseas Vietnamese delegation from 22 countries donates books and gifts to children on Trường Sa Island.

Could you share about the significance of the Prime Minister's approval of the project to promote the resources of Vietnamese people abroad for the country's development?

This project holds comprehensive significance, mobilising the resources of overseas Vietnamese to contribute to the country's development during the intensive industrialisation and modernisation phase, associated with Việt Nam's goal to become a developed, high-income nation by 2045, as outlined in the 13th Party Congress.

Firstly, the project strengthens the unified understanding that overseas Vietnamese are an increasingly important resource in contributing to the construction, development and protection of the homeland. It aims to formulate holistic, fundamental and sustainable directions, strategies and measures to both nurture and attract and maximise these resources.

Secondly, the project clearly defines the tasks of ministries, sectors, and localities in leveraging the resources of the overseas Vietnamese community. It establishes a mechanism for coordinated implementation, from the central to grassroots levels, both domestically and internationally, with specific key tasks. This includes creating a favourable environment for overseas Vietnamese to feel secure in their connection and contribution to the homeland. The project also involves a comprehensive review, revision and supplementation of legal regulations, ensuring that overseas Vietnamese enjoy a legal environment essentially equivalent to domestic individuals when engaging in investment, business, scientific and technological activities, cultural endeavours, and more. Simultaneously, it establishes a framework and sustainable mechanisms to encourage overseas Vietnamese to participate in the country's development.

In the long term, the project will contribute to strengthening the global network of overseas Vietnamese, nurturing and developing the resources of this community, ensuring sustained development that can be harnessed for specific tasks over the long run. This involves intensifying the implementation of measures to care for and support a community with a solid, stable legal status, fostering development and integration in the host countries, especially in challenging areas. It also includes establishing and reinforcing the network of organisations and associations of overseas Vietnamese through various forms, acting as the core in gathering and mobilising overseas Vietnamese to unite, build community and turn towards the homeland.

The project aims to identify and cultivate positive, influential factors within the community and in Việt Nam's relations with the host countries. It emphasises enhancing activities to engage the younger generation of overseas Vietnamese, raising awareness about their roots, historical traditions and culture. Through these efforts, the project seeks to nurture and strengthen the emotional connection with the homeland, instil pride in the nation, and foster a sense of contributing to the nation-building process.

Could you please outline the tasks of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs in the upcoming period to specify and implement the solutions proposed in the project?

From the perspective of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aside from being the focal point for monitoring, coordinating, urging, and synthesising the project's implementation, the ministry will concentrate on specific tasks.

The first is to strengthen community support and mobilisation, identifying new factors, promoting connections, and supporting the formation, consolidation, and development of associations, intellectual networks, and proactive businesspeople contributing to the country's development.

Additionally, there will be an increased focus on engaging local authorities and organisations to ensure legal rights and interests, creating favourable conditions to enhance the community's status and the associations of overseas Vietnamese.

Secondly, emphasis will be placed on enhancing research and synthesising information about the situation of overseas Vietnamese resources. The ministry will support various sectors, localities, organisations, institutions, businesses and individuals in connecting and attracting the resources of overseas Vietnamese. Collaborative initiatives, such as the Xuân Quê Hương (Homeland Spring) event, youth summer camps, Vietnamese language training, conferences, workshops for feedback and annual charitable activities will be organised in coordination with localities.

Thirdly, activities will be organised to update information about the country's situation and legal policies, combined with listening to the sentiments, desires, and opinions of overseas Vietnamese. Proposals will be made to competent authorities for reviewing, amending, supplementing, and issuing policies and laws to address difficulties and create favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese to live, work, invest, produce and do business in Việt Nam.

Fourthly, projects related to overseas Vietnamese affairs will be continued, including the projects: building overseas Vietnamese database; mobilising overseas Vietnamese to introduce, consume Vietnamese products, and develop distribution channels for Vietnamese goods abroad, in the 2020-24 period; and honouring the Vietnamese Language in the overseas Vietnamese community in 2023-30 period.

Lastly, training courses will be organised to enhance the knowledge of officials involved in community engagement and the attraction of resources from overseas Vietnamese. — VNS