(VOVworld) – Promoting national unity and persuading overseas Vietnamese to contribute to the homeland have been an important task of the Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) since its inception. Beginning on Thursday, its 8th National Congress will discuss measures to connect the overseas Vietnamese community with the homeland and further mobilize their resources for national development.
Vietnam now has 4.5 million overseas Vietnamese in more than 100 countries. The Vietnam Fatherland Front has implemented several programs to encourage their contributions to Vietnam’s development.
Overseas Vietnamese, an important part of national unity
In recent years, approximately 500,000 overseas Vietnamese returned home annually to seek investment and business opportunities. Overseas Vietnamese have established 3,500 businesses in Vietnam with a registered capital of 8.4 billion USD. Their remittances have increased 10-15% annual. The overseas Vietnamese community has helped to accelerate Vietnam’s international integration. They have taken part in many charity programs in Vietnam and showed their support on the East Sea issue. They have contributed opinions to the revised 1992 Constitution and the Vietnam Fatherland Front’s political report which will be discussed at the upcoming congress.
The 7th VFF’s Central Committee includes 17 overseas Vietnamese who represent Vietnamese entrepreneurs, intellectuals and workers abroad. According to the Constitution, overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation. Nguyen Thien Nhan, President of the VFF’s Central Committee, said: “We appreciate the contributions of overseas Vietnamese to Vietnam’s development and defense, humanitarian programs, and scientific research. We are always willing to listen to their opinions, to support them, and make it easier for them to contribute to the homeland.”
Diversifying ways to persuade overseas Vietnamese to consolidate national unity
During its next term, the VFF will continue to diversify its approach to overseas Vietnamese affairs and laws and policies concerning nationality, land, housing, and investment in accordance with the 2013 Constitution. Nguyen Hoai Bac of Canada said: “More favorable policies and mechanisms are needed to make the most of overseas Vietnamese potential. The VFF has done its best to promote national unity. I hope that during its next term the VFF will propose more specific policies to facilitate overseas Vietnamese affairs.”
VFF President Nguyen Thien Nhan talked about the participation of overseas Vietnamese in the next VFF’s Central Committee. “In the previous term the Front had representatives of overseas Vietnamese and the number of representatives is expected to increase this term. It shows that overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation. The Party, State, VFF, organizations, and Vietnamese people hope that Vietnamese living abroad will always abide by local laws but look toward their homeland. The Front will do everything it can to connect them with the homeland.”
The 8th Congress will appeal to people of all social strata including overseas Vietnamese to unite in national construction and defense in the new period. VFF Vice President Nguyen Lam says: “Unity is an important tradition of the Vietnamese nation. The appeal will focus on the important work of developing and defending our nation. We urge overseas Vietnamese to keep national identity, turn toward the homeland, and respect the national cause.”
The VFF will exert more efforts to connect overseas Vietnamese to their fatherland and enhance its role as a representative to protect the legitimate rights and interests of Vietnamese people living aboard.