Hanoi (VNA) – Thesolidarity among the Vietnamese people has never shone so brightly during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Ambassador Luong Thanh Nghi, Vice Chairman of theState Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (OV) Affairs (SCOV).

Talking to the Vietnam NewsAgency on the occasion of the Lunar New Year (Tet), he said the Party and Statehave always paid attention to encouraging OVs to uphold and bring into play thenational identity and spread the country’s values to international friends.

Every year, the SCOV organisestrips to the homeland for OVs, particularly on the occasion of important anniversaries orevents like the death anniversary of the Hung Kings - the legendary founder ofVietnam, Tet, and the National Day (September 2). Among those activities, theHomeland Spring programme, held annually on the occasion of Tet, is the largestcultural event for the OV community.

Summer camps also take placeannually for young OVs to experience cultural and historical values as well asthe daily life in the homeland, Nghi noted, adding that overseas representativeagencies of Vietnam hold Tet celebrations each year, and the SCOV has workedwith the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to arrange the Vietnam Day orVietnamese Culture Week in many countries.

With regard to COVID-19, hesaid since the pandemic broke out, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has coordinatedwith relevant agencies to make plans to repatriate Vietnamese citizens strandedabroad. Though not all citizens’ wish to return home has been met,thanks to efforts by Vietnamese agencies both at home and abroad, the repatriation work has been done well, showing the spirit of mutual assistance, especially thecompatriotship with OVs.

In the trying times caused bythe pandemic’s impacts on every economic, cultural, and social aspect, theVietnamese people have demonstrated their mettle and will and popularised theVietnamese values to international friends, according to the ambassador.

In 2020 and 2021, Vietnamese overseas donatedabout 120 billion VND (5.3 million USD) to the COVID-19 Prevention and ControlFund and the COVID-19 Vaccine Fund, thousands of tonnes of medical supplies,and hundreds of thousands of N95 face masks. In particular, a number ofVietnamese doctors in the US and some other countries voluntarily applied tojoin frontline forces in the homeland in the pandemic combat. Several onlineforums were held for OVs, especially medical experts, to share anti-pandemic experiencewith Ho Chi Minh City and other southern localities.

Nghi went on to say that inthe vaccine diplomacy campaign, many OV associations along with prestigious andinfluential Vietnamese persons in other countries assisted representativeagencies in seeking and accessing sources of vaccine supplies. The vaccine abundanceat present is partly attributable to OVs.

Concluding the interview, hesent the best wishes to all OVs and expressed his hope that they will maintaintheir enthusiasm to join hands with compatriots in the homeland to realise theaspiration for national prosperity and happiness for all people./.