Hanoi (VNA) – More than 150 heads of Vietnamese representativeagencies abroad and leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) gatheredat a conference in Hanoi on August 7 to discuss measures to enhance the effectivenessof activities related to overseas Vietnamese (OV) and citizen protection.

At the event, jointly held by the MOFA’s Department of Consular Affairsand the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs, the participantsfocused on outcomes and shortcomings in the work and orientations for the2018-2020 period.

Heads of the Vietnamese representative agencies abroad shared their realexperiences and pointed out challenges and difficulties as well as factorsaffecting the effectiveness of OV-related affairs and citizen protection, thusseeking solutions to improve the efficiency of the work.

In the past two years, the amount of remittances sent home by OVsexceeded 25 billion USD. In 2017, the flow of investment poured into thedomestic market by OVs hit about 4 billion USD.

Alongside, many OV intellectuals and enterprises have made remarkable contributionsto the development of various sectors at home, while OV youngsters have showedtheir interest in developing the motherland.

Meanwhile, despite unprecedented and difficult cases of citizenprotection happening currently, authorized agencies have shown timely responseand ensured interests of Vietnamese individuals and organisations abroad.

Specifically, in the recent two years after the 29th DiplomaticConference, authorized agencies carried out citizen protection for more than16,000 Vietnamese citizens and over 600 vessels with 5,000 fishermen seized byforeign forces or faced difficulties abroad.

Addressing the event, Deputy Foreign Ministers Vu Hong Nam and NguyenQuoc Dung asked for drastic measures to attract more resources from OVs toserve national development as well as to provide timely and accurate responsein consular affairs and citizen protection, especially in the context that theworld situation has seen rapid and unexpected developments.

Nam stressed that in the coming time, it is necessary to increase therole of overseas Vietnamese representative agencies in acquiring aspirations ofVietnamese communities abroad, thus rolling out measures to support thecommunities in reinforcing their legal status, settlement and socialintegration, while maintaining the Vietnamese language and national culturalidentity.

He stressed the need to lure more OV resources for national growth, withfocus on youngsters. It is also crucial to update the communities with accurateinformation about policies of the Party and State, Nam stressed.

Meanwhile, Dung proposed relevant agencies actively carry out consularaffairs in line with law to reduce complaints and denunciations, while speedingup the formation of a sustainable inter-sectoral mechanism on citizenprotection and seeking more speedy methods to share information between MOFA unitsand other agencies.

He underscored the necessity to strengthen international cooperation inthe field, as well as bilateral and multilateral dialogues, creating a legalfoundation for the protection of rights and interests of Vietnamese legalentities and citizens in other countries.

Dung also pointed to the need to mobilise social resources and effortsof international organisations in citizen protection, while applying moreeffective communication measures to guide Vietnamese citizens travelling abroadand provide them with updated information through various channels such aswebsites and hotlines of Vietnamese representative agencies.-VNA