Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: No matter where you are, contributing to the country is patriotism.

On the afternoon of December 10, during his official visit to Luxembourg, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with representatives of the Vietnamese community in this country - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Vietnamese Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg Nguyen Van Thao said that although the Vietnamese community here is not large, only about 600 people, there are people participating in government agencies, scientific research organizations, finance and banking and have a certain voice and position in these organizations.

The Vietnamese community here is always united, supportive of each other, very patriotic, preserving national culture and Vietnamese language, looking towards the homeland and country with positive, effective, meaningful and practical activities. The Ambassador said that in 2023, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of relations between the two countries, they will try to establish a Vietnamese association in this country.

The Ambassador said that this was Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s first official visit to Luxembourg and the first high-level visit between the two countries in the past 10 years, marking the two countries’ relationship entering a new stage of development. So far, it can be affirmed that the visit was a great success, of great significance and opened up many great opportunities for cooperation between the two countries.

The Prime Minister emphasized: All policies aimed at the people in the country must also be aimed at overseas Vietnamese - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Through the Prime Minister's visit, the Luxembourg side highly appreciated the position and role of Vietnam and wished to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam. The Ambassador hoped that the people would continue to promote their role as a bridge in promoting cooperation between the two countries.

Representatives of the people expressed their joy at the country's remarkable progress in recent times, not only in big cities but also in rural areas, especially this year when GDP could grow up to 8%, while still controlling inflation and maintaining macroeconomic stability.

Representatives raised a number of questions related to land policy; promoting Vietnamese culture in Luxembourg; policy orientation in developing green economy, circulation, digital transformation; whether international students should stay or return to Vietnam...

Mr. Vu Xuan Thang, born in 1985, a telecommunications research expert at the University of Luxembourg, said that cooperation between the two countries in scientific research, education-training, and innovation is not really strong. He questioned the orientation in the above field, affirming that the Vietnamese community is always ready to actively participate and contribute to cooperation in this field.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed that the Party and State always pay attention to the overseas Vietnamese community in general and the Vietnamese community in Luxembourg in particular, which is an inseparable part of the Vietnamese national community - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Sharing with the people, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed that the Party and State always pay attention to the overseas Vietnamese community in general and the Vietnamese community in Luxembourg in particular, which is an inseparable part of the Vietnamese national community.

During their overseas trips, Party and State leaders always take time to meet with the Vietnamese community living far from the Fatherland, listen to their thoughts and aspirations, and request local leaders to pay attention to their legitimate rights and interests. On August 12, 2021, the Politburo issued Conclusion No. 12-KL/TW on the work of overseas Vietnamese in the new situation, demonstrating the consistent, unified, and comprehensive concern, affection, and responsibility of the Party and State in caring for the overseas Vietnamese community.

The results and achievements in the country's development have important contributions from the overseas Vietnamese community. The overseas Vietnamese community has 5.3 million people in more than 130 countries and territories, including 500,000-600,000 experts and intellectuals.

The Vietnamese community in other countries has an increasingly solid legal status, many people participate in the local government apparatus, unite, unite, strive to rise up, assert themselves, contribute to raising the position of the community, affirm the national spirit, the Vietnamese spirit is never to give up in the face of any difficulty. The Vietnamese community is successful in many fields, has a life that is generally higher year after year; has gathered, established innovation networks in the local area and promoted activities back home, has many activities in the field of high technology, innovation, and contributes opinions for the country.

"Vietnamese people living abroad, wherever they are, will find a supportive and helpful community. This is a good tradition that needs to be promoted," the Prime Minister said, asking Ambassador Nguyen Van Thao to promote the establishment of an Association of Vietnamese people in this country. "Although small, it is of high quality."

Sharing about the Vietnam-Luxembourg relationship, the Prime Minister said that Luxembourg is a country with a small population and area but has not succumbed to foreign powers. Over the past 50 years, it has developed in the right direction from an agricultural country to a developed country, especially in the service, finance, and banking sectors, and is currently shifting to developing areas such as green transformation and digital transformation.

Also in the past 50 years, Vietnam has gone from a country that experienced many years of war and embargo to carrying out renovation, achieving many great and historic achievements, with a GDP of about 400 billion USD, an average income per capita of about 4,000 USD, and the country's position has been increasingly raised. Our country has never had the foundation, potential, position and prestige as it does today.

The socio-economic situation in the first 11 months of 2022 continued to improve in most areas with many bright spots. The macro-economy remained stable; inflation was controlled, major balances were ensured, exports increased by 13.4%, realized FDI capital increased by 15.1%, gross domestic product (GDP) in 9 months increased by 8.83%... Social security was ensured, people's material and spiritual life was improved. National defense and security were strengthened; national independence and sovereignty were maintained; political security and social order and safety were ensured. Foreign affairs activities took place actively and effectively.

The Prime Minister shared the difficulties, hardships and efforts of our compatriots in more than 2 years of preventing the COVID-19 pandemic; said that the relationship between the two countries has achieved many encouraging results in the past time and will be upgraded in the coming time to make it more convenient for our compatriots to live, study and work. He said that during this visit, senior leaders of the Government, National Assembly and Royal Family of Luxembourg all had positive assessments of our community in Luxembourg and promised to create favorable conditions for our compatriots in Luxembourg to successfully integrate, contribute to the socio-economic development of the locality and look towards their homeland and country.

Acknowledging and thanking the opinions and suggestions of the people, which clearly show their love for their homeland and country, the Prime Minister said that policies on residence, immigration, land, etc. always take into account overseas Vietnamese, creating opportunities for overseas Vietnamese to take care of their relatives in the country and contribute to the country.

The Prime Minister affirmed that the Party and State always respect human rights and the differences of each person in choosing a job, a place of residence, staying in the country or returning to Vietnam. In the past, when conditions were not yet developed, Vietnamese people had to return home to be able to contribute to the country, but now, we have many tools to contribute to the country from afar if we truly love our country, our hearts, minds, feelings, responsibilities and actions are always directed towards the country.

"Doing that anywhere is patriotism. I hope everyone can evaluate their own circumstances and work to make a choice. No matter where they live or work, as long as we feel most comfortable, take care of ourselves, are happy and prosperous, then we can take care of our families and contribute to the collective and the country. Patriotism is not limited to location or scope, as long as we can contribute to the country, it is patriotism. Our Party and State have no other goal than an independent, strong, prosperous country, happy and prosperous people; promoting the intelligence, qualities and abilities of Vietnamese people in building and defending the Fatherland. All policies directed towards people in the country must also be directed towards overseas Vietnamese," said the Prime Minister.

On the other hand, the Government has issued Decree 140/2017/ND-CP on policies to attract and create a source of cadres from excellent graduates and young scientists, in accordance with the conditions and circumstances of the country. Implementing the direction of the Politburo, the Government is also assigning the Ministry of Home Affairs to develop policies to encourage and protect those who dare to think, dare to do, and dare to take responsibility for the common good.

Also at the meeting, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and leaders of ministries and branches answered many specific issues raised by the people. The Prime Minister affirmed that the areas raised by the people such as green transformation, circular economy, digital economy, innovation, science and technology, education and training, etc. are all priority and key areas in the current period. The Prime Minister said that after this visit, he will direct domestic agencies to implement more drastic measures to meet the legitimate aspirations of our compatriots abroad.

In the atmosphere of preparing to welcome the New Year 2023 and the Lunar New Year of Quy Mao, the Prime Minister sent wishes of health, happiness and success to all our compatriots in Luxembourg, wishing the Vietnamese community in Luxembourg to always be united and grow stronger and stronger.

The meeting with the Vietnamese community in the host country was the final activity of the Prime Minister and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation during their official visit to Luxembourg. Immediately after this event, the Prime Minister and the delegation went to the airport, left Luxembourg, and began their official visit to the Netherlands.