In a warm and heartfelt meeting, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairwoman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese, Le Thi Thu Hang, recently met with members of the Vietnamese community from both the East and West coasts of Canada during her official visit from August 24-27.
During the visit, the delegation led by Deputy Minister Hang held gatherings with the Vietnamese community in Toronto and surrounding areas. These meetings provided an opportunity to share updates on Vietnam’s domestic affairs, discuss issues relevant to overseas Vietnamese, and address concerns such as land law reforms, citizenship matters, maritime issues, and overseas Vietnamese programs. A key topic of interest was human resource development.
Speaking with the Vietnam News Agency (TTXVN) in Canada, Deputy Minister Hang emphasized the importance of sharing information about the country’s ongoing development. She reiterated that the Vietnamese government is committed to protecting the rights and interests of overseas Vietnamese. Specific legal frameworks, including land, housing, real estate business laws, and new citizenship policies, were discussed to ensure the community is aware of the opportunities available for their active engagement in Vietnam’s progress.
The delegation also highlighted various initiatives for overseas Vietnamese, such as the “Spring Homeland” event, trips to encourage support for the residents of Truong Sa (Spratly) Islands, and the summer camp for young overseas Vietnamese. These programs aim to foster a closer connection between overseas Vietnamese and their homeland, encouraging contributions to national development.
Nguyen Hoai Bac, a Canadian-Vietnamese businessman investing in Vietnam, praised the positive updates shared by the delegation, affirming that the government is creating the best possible policies for the overseas Vietnamese community. Similarly, Julie Nguyen, Chairwoman of the Canada-Vietnam Trade Council, highlighted the importance of these exchanges, allowing Vietnamese-Canadian entrepreneurs and community leaders to voice their perspectives on enhancing trade and investment relations between the two countries.
Additionally, Vietnamese businesses in Canada have proposed ideas to connect Canadian companies with those in Vietnam, while facilitating legal labor migration to Canada for Vietnamese workers. Chung Vinh, Chairman of the Vietnamese-Canadian Business Association (East Coast), expressed optimism about training programs that would meet Canadian standards, thereby enabling Vietnamese workers to enter the Canadian labor market effectively and legally.
Deputy Minister Hang lauded the community’s suggestions, which ranged from connecting businesses between Canada and Vietnam to creating vocational training programs for workers seeking legal employment in Canada. She noted that these ideas align with the Vietnamese government’s policy to support overseas Vietnamese in their efforts to strengthen ties with their homeland.
The delegation also visited Vancouver, meeting with the Consulate General of Vietnam and the Vietnamese-Canadian Business Association (West Coast). They toured the 88 Supermarket chain, owned by the President of the Vietnamese-Canadian Business Association, which has successfully partnered with Vietnamese enterprises to export goods to Canada.
The Vietnamese-Canadian Business Association was established with the goal of building a strong overseas Vietnamese business community, one capable of competing with other global business networks. This vision aligns with the broader objective of the Vietnamese government to unite and empower the overseas Vietnamese community, not only in Canada but worldwide, so they can contribute even more to their homeland’s growth.
According to Deputy Minister Hang, the ideas and contributions from the Vietnamese community reflect their strong connection to their homeland and their desire to contribute to the nation’s development. These proposals, ranging from business connections to vocational training and the establishment of professional associations, showcase the community’s commitment to fostering greater cooperation between Vietnam and Canada.
