Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh had a meeting with the Vietnamese Embassy staff and the Vietnamese community in New Zealand on March 10 as part of his official trip to the country, VNA reported.

At the event, PM Chinh briefed the community about the country’s situation, thanked the Vietnamese community in New Zealand for always keeping the homeland in their heart, and stressed that the Party and State always see the overseas Vietnamese, including those in New Zealand, as an integral part of the Vietnamese people.

The Government leader underscored that the community has an important role to play in bolstering the Vietnam – New Zealand relations, which have been unceasingly developing over the past decades.

He asked the Vietnamese people in New Zealand to promote solidarity to build a strong and developed community, uphold national pride, actively integrate into the host country’s society, comply with the laws and contribute to local development.

Besides, he urged them to preserve Vietnamese cultural tradition and language, and have more practical activities in contributions to the homeland’s construction.

He expressed his hope that the Vietnamese community in foreign countries and in New Zealand, in particular, will join the Party, military, and people’s efforts to concretize the set target of making Vietnam a developed and high-income country by 2045.

The meeting lasted longer than usual and beyond the expected schedule because the head of the Vietnamese Government always encouraged people to speak up and share about their lives and work in New Zealand.

Vietnamese people in New Zealand applauded after listening to the Prime Minister's sincere sharing. Photo: Doan Bac

The overseas Vietnamese expressed their delight and pride in the fatherland’s development as well as the sound Vietnam – New Zealand ties, and stressed that the Party and State have special affection for the community, with the amendment of the laws on land, realty market and housing that create opportunities for them to own houses in the homeland.

They said they hope that the governments of both countries will continue negotiations and promote the implementation of agreements so that Vietnamese products could penetrate deeper into the New Zealand market.

Besides, they pointed out several bottlenecks in administrative procedures in Vietnam, especially legal ones related to foreigners and overseas Vietnamese, while recommending the governments of both countries relax visa policy to create more favorable conditions for citizens to enhance exchange, as well as recognize each other’s degrees.

Vietnam should have policies to support organizations and individuals who engage in the preservation and promotion work of national cultural identity in foreign countries, they added.

PM Chinh said that the Vietnamese government is working on the above-mentioned recommendations, including visa policy renewal, establishment of mechanisms to attract and facilitate conditions for overseas Vietnamese to return home to work, and measures to preserve their cultural identity.

He added that he will ask New Zealand to consider and recognize the Vietnamese community as an ethnic minority group.

More than 10,000 Vietnamese are living and working in New Zealand. They have contributed greatly to the host nation as well as the Vietnam – New Zealand relations. Many have built successful careers in business and scientific research.

According to VGP, an overseas Vietnamese who has lived abroad for 20 years said that because she was impressed with the PM's closeness and simplicity, she boldly asked him to share about his job, especially the difficulties he faced in life.

The PM replied, "I was born in the coastal region, grew up in the mountainous region in a poor yet large family. I always know I have to do my job, being assigned by seniors and government, to the fullest. Whatever you do, try to complete it well. Do what is assigned well. Whatever you can think of that is good for everyone and beneficial to the common good, try to do it."

He then recalled he have been fortunate to have experienced many different positions and jobs, both in the South and the North, both domestically and internationally. In addition to his own efforts, the help and support of friends, and colleagues are extremely important.

Without the Party, State, and People, there is no individual. For example, without Party and State policies, how can a poor student in a mountainous area like him be able to study abroad? Then after he finished studying, he was assigned a job.

"Wherever I work, my comrades always support and help me very enthusiastically, and I try not to disappoint them," he added.

On the afternoon of March 11, PM Pham Minh Chinh also visited, met with lecturers, students and gave a speech at Victoria University of Wellington, VGP reported.

Victoria University of Wellington is one of New Zealand's oldest and most prestigious universities and is also home to the most Vietnamese students among New Zealand's universities.

PM Pham Minh Chinh and students in Victoria University of Wellington. Photo: VGP

According to Vice Principal, Professor Nick Smith, there are currently more than 200 Vietnamese students studying at the school.

In total, there are about 700 Vietnamese alumni, and recently, the university organized a very successful meeting with Vietnamese alumni in Ho Chi Minh City.

These alumni have made positive contributions to the development of both countries. The school also has active academic links and research collaborations with many Vietnamese partners such as the Open University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, among others.

Victoria University is the first New Zealand university to implement dual degree training with Vietnam; closely coordinating with the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam to deploy teaching graduate students and Ph.D. students in economics; participated in three capacity-building programs and English courses for Vietnamese State officials.

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