On December 25, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will organize a national conference to review the implementation of Resolution No.36-NQ/TW issued in 2004 on overseas Vietnamese affairs.

On the afternoon of December 22, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Lê Thị Thu Hằng chaired a press briefing to provide information about the upcoming national conference reviewing the implementation of Resolution 36 and other directives of the Politburo and the Secretariat on overseas Vietnamese affairs. The conference is scheduled to take place on December 25.

According to leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Resolution 36 is the first comprehensive strategic document of the Party on overseas Vietnamese affairs in the period of accelerated international integration. The Resolution marked an important milestone and has served as a “guiding principle” for the policies and activities of the Party, the State, ministries, sectors and localities for more than two decades.

Resolution 36 affirms a consistent and overarching viewpoint that overseas Vietnamese are an inseparable part and an important resource of the Vietnamese national community, and a key factor contributing to the strengthening of cooperative and friendly relations between Vietnam and other countries.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang noted that, in implementing the directives of the Secretariat, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is closely coordinating with ministries, sectors and localities to conduct a comprehensive review of more than 20 years of implementing Resolution 36 and related documents. The review aims to thoroughly assess achievements, identify shortcomings and limitations, and propose appropriate guidelines and policies for a new development phase.

To date, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese has received 60 review reports, 20 thematic papers and 180 proposals and recommendations from ministries, sectors and localities.

In addition, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese has compiled feedback from 98 Vietnamese representative missions overseas and organized five thematic seminars and workshops to support the comprehensive review and assessment of overseas Vietnamese affairs over the past period.

According to assessments, after more than 20 years of implementing Resolution 36, the overseas Vietnamese community has developed strongly in both scale and quality.

From around 2.7 million people living in nearly 90 countries and territories in 2004, the community has grown to nearly 6.5 million people residing in more than 130 countries and territories. Approximately 80% of overseas Vietnamese now live in developed countries, with their position increasingly affirmed in host societies and on international forums.

“The conference will consist of two sessions: a closed session in the morning and a plenary session in the afternoon, with the participation and remarks of the Prime Minister. The event will also be connected online to 98 Vietnamese representative missions overseas.

The conference will serve as an important opportunity to strengthen exchanges and connectivity among ministries, sectors, localities, Vietnamese representative missions abroad and the overseas Vietnamese community.

An estimated 320 delegates are expected to attend the conference, including 20 outstanding overseas Vietnamese representatives who will return to attend the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress,” Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang said.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conference will focus on reviewing and reaching consensus on assessments of the overseas Vietnamese community, including its size and distribution, development trends, notable contributions, shortcomings to be addressed, difficulties and challenges, as well as the results of implementing Resolution 36, Directive No.45-CT/TW and Conclusion No.12-KL/TW.

On the sidelines of the conference, an exhibition and product showcase will be held featuring 10 companies, including seven overseas Vietnamese enterprises and three domestic firms, within a cultural space aimed at strengthening connections with the overseas Vietnamese community.