Since the inaugural conference in October 2021, Vietnam has expanded its network to include 48 honorary consuls worldwide, consisting of 11 in Asia-Pacific, 20 in Europe, seven in the Americas, and 10 in the Middle East and Africa.
During the conference, honorary consuls from Nepal, Brazil, New Caledonia (France) and other countries shared practical experiences and proposed measures to improve the effectiveness of the network.
Reflecting on a decade of service as Vietnam's Honorary Consul in New Caledonia, Dinh Jean Pierre emphasized the importance of close cooperation with overseas Vietnamese associations.
"Collaboration in citizen protection should be built on transparency, cooperation and mutual respect to earn the trust and support of the Vietnamese community. Honorary consuls should also work closely with community organizations to preserve Vietnamese cultural identity through both regular activities and signature events," said Dinh Jean.
To further strengthen the honorary consul system, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Consular Department will continue facilitating appointments, maintaining close coordination with honorary consuls and recognizing outstanding contributions.
Doan Hoang Minh, Director General of the Consular Department, said: "We will study measures to broaden the network of honorary consuls and identify qualified, committed individuals who can help the Vietnamese Government fulfill its consular responsibilities overseas. At the same time, we will improve the quality and effectiveness of the honorary consul system to better support the country's broader development goals."
