Dang Thanh Binh, in charge of overseas Vietnamese in District 1, spoke at the conference. Photo: Le Thoa

The Ho Chi Minh City Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, on Dec. 24, coordinated to organize a conference to deploy conclusion No. 12/2021 of the Politburo on the work of overseas Vietnamese in the new situation.

Removing procedural difficulties to attract experts

At the conference, Pham Huu Tai, an overseas Vietnamese in Australia, shared the difficulties in procedures and funding in using technology to preserve coconut water and bring sweet gourds abroad. Tai suggested that this issue should be dealt with to attract experts in the country's socio-economic recovery after Covid-19.

Le Ba Linh, an overseas Vietnamese in Thailand, said that over the past 10 years he had tried to conquer global markets with Vietnamese branded products, then returned to serve people in the country.

“Hopefully local agencies will create more communication conditions for products that have taken us decades to conquer the world market,” Linh said.

Phung Cong Dung, chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, presents flowers to Luong Thanh Nghi, vice chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs. Photo: Le Thoa

Duong Thi Kim Dung, an overseas Vietnamese in the US, said that the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies should pay special attention and close attention in importing Covid-19 vaccines and drugs to Vietnam.

Creating conditions for overseas Vietnamese to return home

Luong Thanh Nghi, vice chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, overseas Vietnamese had accompanied the country to fight the pandemic.

Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi, vice chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, spoke at the conference. Photo: Le Thoa

Up to now, overseas Vietnamese have donated VND70 billion (US$ 3 million) to the vaccine fund, and about US$10 million in medical equipment such as ventilators, masks, and protective gear.

Luong Thanh Nghi said: “In an emergency situation, we have mobilized 94 heads of Vietnamese representative missions in other countries to mobilize host countries to call on host countries to donate or lend vaccines. Due to that, Vietnam is one of the fastest vaccination countries in the world,” Nghi said.

Regarding the return of Vietnamese people, Nghi said that in the first phase, the consistent policy is to bring Vietnamese citizens home by all means, with priority given to students who have finished their semester, and people over 60 years old.

However, flights must ensure safety against Covid-19, so it is not possible to bring many people back at the same time; not to mention that isolation capacity was still limited. Therefore, Vietnamese representative offices abroad faced a lot of pressure.

"From September 2021, we have submitted for the Prime Minister to create conditions for Vietnamese citizens and overseas Vietnamese to return home, especially during the Lunar New Year," Nghi said.

At the conference, To Dai Phong, deputy head of the Propaganda Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, said that conclusion No. 12/2021 of the Politburo on the work of overseas Vietnamese in the new situation further affirmed the importance and role of overseas Vietnamese. To Dai Phong, deputy head of the Propaganda Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee. Photo: Le Thoa The conclusion shows that overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of the country, making a very important contribution to the cause of national construction and defense. Phong said the recent national conference on foreign affairs affirmed the correct foreign policy that "allows us to gain national strength at home and abroad."

Obstacles Stranded Vietnamese Have Getting Home Restrictions and limitations imposed by the pandemic have created roadblocks for Vietnamese residents eager to return home after being overseas for a long time.

Embassy Assists Vietnamese Sailors Rescued Off RoK's Water The Vietnam's embassy in the Republic of Korea (RoK) deployed citizen protection measures and assisted Vietnamese sailors rescued off Korea's coast.

Vietnamese People in Malaysia Support One Another During Pandemic The Liaison Committee of Vietnamese People in Johor, Malaysia held a ceremony to review the work in 2021 and the direction for 2022.