More favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese
The Communist Party of Vietnam Politburo issued its Resolution 36 and other policies related to overseas Vietnamese to make them feel they are an inseparable part of the nation.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son, who is also the Chairman of the State Commission on Overseas Vietnamese, emphasised this in an interview granted to our reporter.
Reporter: In your opinion, what benefits have resolution 36 brought to overseas Vietnamese?
Mr. Son: Resolution 36 is a breakthrough related to overseas Vietnamese with transparent information related to the Party’s policies on overseas Vietnamese. Since its was introduced in 2004, the resolution has changed staff opinions at all levels towards overseas Vietnamese. Overseas people are now considered an inseparable part of the nation and are protected by the Vietnamese law.
In line with the resolution, the amended Nationality Law introduced in 2008 also created favourable conditions and gave support to overseas Vietnamese to stabilize their lives, integrate into the society of their countries of residence and maintain close links to the homeland through dual nationality. This reflects Vietnam’s open policies on international cooperation which have been highly appreciated by international friends.
The General Director of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, said at the Thang Long-Hanoi 1,000th anniversary that Vietnam is an excellent example of international cooperation.
The resolution also ensures overseas citizens with equal treatment as people in the homeland so they will feel more comfortable when they return. Many US members of congress said Vietnam’s recent policies on overseas people are very good.
Reporter: It is said that you are about to meet with those overseas Vietnamese who are acting counter to the nation’s interests. What are your plans for the meeting?
Mr. Son: In Vietnam’s national reconciliation, the Party and State do not want to exclude them from the Vietnamese Community. All we want to do is to change their minds for the better and have a more objective view about the present development of Vietnam.
The Party and State always welcome overseas Vietnamese, no matter how they left Vietnam, as long as they do not protest against their homeland, said President Nguyen Minh Triet at a meeting with overseas Vietnamese in California, USA in 2007. This shows our benevolent policies and a spirit of national unity.
At present, there are still organisations and individuals who go counter to the nation’s interest. However, their status is getting weaker as Vietnamese communities overseas have access to more accurate information about their home country.
We have plans to work with them and have informed them about the plans through the US Embassy and Vietnam’s diplomatic representative offices in the US and Canada. We want to know the reasons for their misunderstanding and hope we can change their minds so they can contribute to the country’s development, if they wish.
Reporter: Some individuals said that they had difficulties with Vietnam’s visa procedures. Can you talk about that?
Mr. Son: Leading members of reactionary organisations that protest against the country are not allowed to enter Vietnam and we have published an official list of them.
Other overseas Vietnamese will find it very easy to get a visa to Vietnam, especially since the Prime Minister decided in 2007 to exempt people holding a valid Vietnamese passport from visa.
Reporter: Thank you very much.