Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng meets overseas Vietnamese during the "Homeland Spring" programme. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI The Politburo has recently issued Conclusion No 120-KL/TW on overseas Vietnamese (OV) affairs in the new situation.

The conclusion said after over five years of implementing the Politburo’s Directive No 45-CT/TW dated May 19, 2015 on continuing to step up the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No 36-NQ/TW dated March 26, 2004 on OV affairs, the Vietnamese community abroad now numbers about 5.3 million in over 130 countries and territories, over 80 per cent of which are developed nations.

A majority of overseas Vietnamese have legal status and stable lives, and have integrated well into the host society.

Wherever they are, they always look toward the homeland, becoming an indispensable part of the Vietnamese nation and an important resource to contribute to the cause of national construction and development.

With the country’s increasingly improved position and prestige in the international arena, their trust has been further reinforced.

Such changes are the result of the overseas Vietnamese's efforts toward the nation and the active involvement of the entire political system and people.

However, OV affairs still show some shortcomings.

To continue effectively carrying out Resolution No 36 and Directive No 45 on OV affairs, the Politburo asked Party committees and organisations to raise awareness and the sense of responsibility for performing the Party and State’s policy of great national unity among OVs.

They are required to urge the OVs, especially young people, to contribute to the development of the host countries, thus becoming a bridge to foster ties between Việt Nam and other nations. Those who make active contributions to the cause of national construction and defence will be promptly honoured.

The Politburo asked for enhancing collaboration with the host authorities, adopting comprehensive measures to assist OVs, especially those in disadvantaged areas, as well as further improving the efficiency of citizen protection work and management of workers and students.

Further attention should be paid to increasing international cooperation in justice, security, crime prevention and control, and effective crackdown on human trafficking, illegal immigration and residence, thus ensuring security in communities and thoroughly dealing with violations by OVs in the host countries.

Other tasks include promoting the strength of the great national unity, fine-tuning the legal system, reforming administrative procedures, performing synchronous polices involving OVs when they come back home to work and live, meeting their need for citizenship in accordance with Việt Nam’s Constitution, laws and Resolution No 36, and perfecting a mechanism to receive and effectively bring into play ideas by Vietnamese experts, intellectuals and businesspeople abroad.

Regarding activities to maintain the Vietnamese language and uphold the nation's cultural identity and traditions, the Politburo requested cooperating with the host nations to improve the efficiency of Vietnamese teaching and learning, add the Vietnamese language into the curricula of educational establishments in areas where many OVs are living, as well as consider building more cultural centres there and designating a day to honour the Vietnamese language to encourage generations of the OVs to learn it. VNS