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Foreign Ministry spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang (Photo: VNA)

New citizen protection measures

Answering reporters' questions regarding information on the trafficking of a woman from the central province of Quang Tri to Myanmar, Hang said that on January 13, the ministry’s Consular Department received requests for support from Quang Tri to bring home a local woman from Bang Khang township in Myanmar’s Shan State.

Shortly after, the ministry directed the Vietnamese Embassy in Myanmar to contact local authorities to verify the information and seek measures to directly speak with the citizen, thus determining her health, safety and hopes, and working with domestic agencies to implement the necessary citizen protection measures.

“We will continue to receive information from the embassy regarding the case,” Hang said.

Regarding information about two Vietnamese citizens detained by Iran while aboard the tanker MT Hankuk Chemi from the Republic of Korea (RoK), which was travelling from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hang said the sailors are in good health.

Vietnamese diplomatic representatives in the RoK and Iran have worked with the host country’s authorised agencies to ask them to protect the safety, health, and living conditions of the sailors, she said.

The Consular Department held direct meetings with the Iranian Embassy in Hanoi to discuss the case, Hang added.

“According to the latest updates from the Vietnamese Embassy in Iran, it managed to contact the two Vietnamese sailors,” she said. “Their current physical and mental health conditions are stable. As scheduled, on January 18, the Iranian side will arrange a consular visit to the sailors for the embassy's officials.”

She added that the Foreign Ministry and Vietnamese representative agencies in the RoK and Iran will continue keeping a close watch on the case and roll out any necessary citizen protection measures to ensure the legitimate rights and interests of the sailors.

Clarifying the case in which a Vietnamese woman was sentenced to three years in prison for the murder charge by a court in the RoK, Hang said the Vietnamese Embassy in the RoK reported that on January 2, a Vietnamese woman born in 1995 and from Kien Giang province jumped from the eighth storey of a building with her daughter in her arms. The child died while the woman was seriously injured and hospitalised. On January 7, a court sentenced her to three years’ imprisonment for murder.

The embassy has been keeping a close watch on the case while asking authorised agencies in the host country, in the spirit of humanitarianism, to continue providing treatment for the woman and give her fair and proper judgment, Hang said.

She added that the embassy visited the woman and applied the necessary citizen protection measures. The Foreign Ministry has asked the embassy to continue following the case and work to protect the legitimate rights and interests of the Vietnamese citizen.

Overseas Vietnamese has always been considered an important part of the country.

The role of overseas Vietnamese (OV) has been reflected in various aspects regarding economics, politics, culture, and international relations over the past 16 years when Vietnam first launched its policy on the OV affairs, according to Dang Minh Khoi, deputy minister of Foreign Affairs and chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs (COVA), according to Hanoi Times.

The Politburo, the most powerful body of the Communist Party of Vietnam, issued Resolution 36-NQ/BCT (Resolution 36) dated March 26, 2004 on OV affairs, affirming the Vietnamese community abroad is an indivisible part of the nation.

Mr. Khoi has highlighted OV contributions to the country in the 2016-2020 period and the need of OV for the next five years and the 10-year Socio-economic Strategy 2021 – 2030.

Many overseas Vietnamese head back to their motherland to enjoy Tet holiday. (Photo: Asiatica Travel)

Main approaches in Vietnam’s OV affairs

Vietnam has adopted regulations on citizenship, immigration, education, accommodation, social welfare, among others, while difficulties in legal status of Vietnamese expatriates in some areas have been gradually removed.

Cultural programs have been promoted with the aim of preserving and disseminating traditional culture through the establishment of Vietnamese cultural centers abroad and numerous festivities. Notably, teaching the Vietnamese language has been popularized while traditional religious practices are also encouraged.

Local authorities have boosted the dissemination of updated policies on OV affairs and facilitated the coverage of the country’s big events for OV reporters.

Numerous activities strengthening the nationalism and bonds with the nation have been organized domestically and abroad like Homeland Spring, Expatriates Visiting Truong Sa Islands, Summer Youth Camp, Gathering for Tet Holiday, Vietnam’s Cultural Day, Arts Programs, and National Holidays.

A large number of Vietnamese are living abroad for studying purpose (Photo: Vietnamnet)

A lot of persuasion and facilitation has been made to those who have biased thinking, encouraging them to return to the country to visit their relatives and witness the nation’s progress.

A number of policies have been made to draw intellectual OV, mainly young people, and to tackle problems for overseas Vietnamese businesses, scientists, experts, and investors who return for research, doing business and making investment.

More individuals are welcomed to participate in the country’s important agencies and think-tanks like the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Group, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, etc.

In the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam has disseminated preventive measures and provided disaster relief to Vietnamese communities in areas of difficulties; repatriated OV and sought support of host countries for confirmed Vietnamese.

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